Schools are key to helping the UK achieve net zero over the next few decades because alongside universities they represent a whopping 36% of total UK public sector building emissions.
The Department of Education acknowledged that climate adaption and decarbonisation in schools can provide ‘powerful learning opportunities’ to young people as well as save thousands of pounds in ever increasing energy bills.
Children who take part in and see sustainability brought to life in the buildings they learn in allows them to contextualise learning about climate change and net zero as well as boosting their interest in science and technology.
What grants are available to make changes?
Department of Education Energy Efficiency Grant
This fund provides £500 million for schools, sixth forms, and colleges across England to reduce their carbon footprint and upgrade their buildings to cut carbon emissions and energy bills.
It represents a fantastic opportunity for schools in England wanting financial help to install solar energy and charging points.
On average the DfE estimates a primary school receives roughly £16,000 while a secondary school receives around £42,000. Contact your local authority to find out more about how to apply for funding.
.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=Cleeve%20School%20(9).jpg)
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charge Points
If your school is looking to install EV charge points then look no further than the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles: Workplace charging scheme for state funded educational institutions.
Make sure you apply by the closing date of March 31 2025 though and that you use an authorised installer.
The grant is available to schools across the UK and provides support towards the costs of buying, installing EV charge points and its infrastructure.
The government hopes the scheme will accelerate the uptake of electric charge points for state-funded and academy trust schools and encourage sustainable school travel.
The grant gives you 75 per cent off the cost to buy and install charge points up to a maximum of £2500 per socket and 40 sockets across all sites. It includes any applications made previously through the Workplace Charging Scheme.
Successful applicants will receive a voucher valid for 180 days from the date of issue and installation must be completed within this time.
£1,000 One Off to Go Eco Fund
Schools can apply for £1,000 funding from the Go Green scheme, supported by tech organisation Tel Group.
The money can be used for any eco-friendly projects and aims to provide additional funding to current or planned projects focused on sustainability, which can make a significant positive impact on the environment.
Creating or Improving Buildings or Outdoor Spaces
The Veolia Environmental Trust provides grants for community and environmental projects four times a year with the next round of funding opening on February 27 2025.
Its Community Grant Scheme is open for not-for-profit organisations and local authorities and provides funding ranging from £10,000 to £75,000 with a maximum project size eligible for funding set at £350,000.
The grant has to go towards creating or improving buildings or outdoor spaces which are used by the community.
The National Lottery's Climate Action Fund
The UK-wide £30 million fund aims to support communities to be environmentally sustainable.
They are interested in projects that involve people, places and communities experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.
The fund is suitable for formal partnerships, working across sectors led by community and voluntary organisations or public sector organisations like schools.
The minimum you can ask for is £500,000 and the fund expects applications of between £1 million and £1.5 million over three to five years but they are open to funding a small number of larger or longer projects.
Altogether, the fund supports around 25 projects a year with the application deadline of Spring 2025 though you need to check the exact dates on The Climate Action Fund’s website.
The Mayor of London's Green Energy Fund
The Mayor’s Green Finance Fund aims to lend up to £500 million to help all its boroughs meet the capital’s net zero ambitions by lowering the cost of borrowing and put public buildings like schools at the forefront of the solar energy generation.
The fund provides grants to support low carbon energy projects in schools, such as solar panels and heat pumps.
Applications are rolling with the next closing date of December 17 2024.
Solar canopies which generate renewable energy and cut energy costs
Kensington Systems' solar canopies have solar panels installed on the roof, helping schools to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their energy bills while also providing useful covered outdoor space.
Three Peaks Academy has chosen to install solar panels on their new playground canopy, significantly reducing carbon footprint and energy bills, while Cleeve School has installed solar panels on its new SpaceMax dining canopy to generate renewable energy for the school.
Get in touch to find out more or discover what savings your school could achieve.
