introduction
Bedford Education Partnership (BEP), which incorporates Central Bedford Council and Bilfinger Berger, built two Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schools over five years ago. Recently, BEP market tested their utility management contract at these schools and took the opportunity to look for a company who were focused on carbon and financial savings.
challenge
The arrangement that was previously in place did not give a dedicated focus on reducing consumption and running costs. As fuel prices were, and still are, increasing this was becoming more important to the school when looking to the long term. BEP were looking for a utilities management company who could provide increased visibility within the schools themselves, acknowledging that the staff and pupils could have a real impact on usage and take the opportunity to look at making cultural changes.
solution
Sustain was successful in winning the bid for the utility management of two schools due to our commitment to carbon and water savings and our proposed approach to work directly with the school staff and pupils. Sustain also structured their offer in a way that guaranteed a 4% energy saving cost reduction by 'giving back' the value of this by way of a reduced fee. Sustain have undertaken and delivered investment into energy saving measures themselves, which is financed by the payment mechanism which shares the savings between the utilities management company and the school. Through this proactive approach and confidence that savings could be achieved with dedicated and focused energy management, Sustain reduced the costs to the schools by over £15,000 per year as well as further shared savings. As part of its outsourcing service, Sustain undertook an audit of two schools and reviewed the schools electricity, gas and water usage. Following these assessments, we then designed a tailored Carbon Management Action Plan (CMAP) for each school. The CMAP outlined key carbon and water saving actions that would be implemented within the contract period of 5 years. These were split down to 'quick wins' with paybacks of less than 5 years. The solutions identified by Sustain all have real usage and financial savings associated with them ensuring that the overall objective from Bedford Education Partnership was being met.
outcome
Since Sustain have taken over the utility management at both schools we have installed insulation measures in the boiler rooms, we are working with the teachers to establish good carbon management practises in the classrooms and offices, and reduced water flow in many of the sanitary fittings. This work has already resulted in carbon (eq) savings of 174 tonnes and 1million litres of water. In the first 3 months Sustain has reduced the consumption of electricity by 12%, gas by 17% and water by a phenomenal 32%. Additional practical actions are continuing to be undertaken to build on this success and improve carbon and water savings even further.
"I have been impressed with the work Sustain have carried out
for us at Samuel Whitbread Community College since taking over as
our utility management partner in August. Within the first three
months they have made visible carbon and water savings, and have
engaged with staff to spread the message about energy saving issues
and 'quickwin' solutions. They were able to take on board and react
quickly to any questions or concerns that we had. Early indications
suggest the appointment of Sustain will be nothing but positive,
and I look forward to working with them."
Robbie Irvine, Assistant Principal, Samuel Whitbread
Community College
