The UK has a 2050 net-zero target and the education sector throughout the UK can make a major contribution to enabling our country to reach this. CMAT Facilities team have set the target of becoming as close to carbon-neutral as they can by 2030 and believe that the Trust can play an important part in educating not only the children who attend CMAT academies, but also the local communities and businesses who work with the Trust.
The team have already made some important steps towards this, working alongside energy and compliance consultants, Zeco. The Trust has been successful in bids for £310,000 from the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund and £178,000 from the Low Carbon Skills Fund Grant. This funding has allowed the Trust to gather the vast amounts of data needed to be able to apply for more funding and to create Heat Decarbonisation Plans.
As part of the funding received, additional sensors have also been installed to help the Trust understand the energy used in more detail. This data is available in near-real-time and the Facilities team aims to reduce emissions by a minimum of 10% per annum by effectively monitoring and targeting.
The Trust has now applied for over £7 million in funding for various projects across our schools. If successful the Trust will be updating plant rooms, heating sources and solar energy to support energy reduction and will also remove and replace all end of life equipment on sites. The first three projects at Sawtry Junior Academy, Nene Park Academy and Bar Hill Primary School are soon to be approved and set in motion and the Trust are hopeful more will follow over the next few weeks.