Sustainable energy and lighting upgrades must not be overlooked

Powercor is warning against neglecting the necessary transition to sustainable energy solutions and modern LED lighting systems, in response to a recent report highlighting that an estimated 700,000 children are being taught in unsafe or ageing school buildings in England.

The report by the National Audit Office throws into focus the deteriorating condition of school buildings amid reports of sewage leaks and the presence of asbestos.

“This is a really challenging situation for schools but we firmly believe decision makers must continue their transition to sustainable energy and improved lighting solutions,” says Chris Wright, CEO, Powercor.

With solar energy systems able to pay back the original investment in fewer than three years in some instances, schools have the opportunity to neutralise their energy costs in a relatively short period of time and free up cash for further infrastructure investment.

“The government has allocated money for sustainable energy solutions, but the amounts involved do not cover everything that’s needed,” continues Chris. “In the case of solar, schools need to add battery storage to their arrays to store energy for future usage but for most schools this isn’t possible with the money they have.”

LED lighting is another important consideration for schools.

“Many studies have proven that lighting can affect mental health and education outcomes,” says Chris. “Not only that but high-energy T5 and T8 fluorescent tubing lamps will be being banned in the UK from 2023, leaving many schools in a tricky situation when existing tube lighting fails.”