© Steve Mayes
Helping existing schools get to net zero carbon Existing buildings are the biggest challenge we face when it comes to decarbonising the built environment. There are 32,163 existing schools in the UK and all of them will need to achieve net zero carbon in order to be in line with the government’s 2050 targets. There are design guidelines for all new schools but there’s no clear direction for existing ones. At Cundall, we believe that it is possible for small interventions to make a big difference when it comes to a school’s overall energy use. We can help lower carbon emissions and save on energy and therefore cost through this offsetting pilot project.
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Cundall have worked with the UK Department of Education to develop a designwhich will help define the standard for all future sustainable school design with a project called GenZero. We are also working with Welsh Schools and others around the world to drive sustainability through the schools estate. We work across all other building types as well. To achieve real change in the existing school estate we plan to work with schools across two phases. Phase One – The Cundall team will analyse the carbon footprint of partnering schools and advise them of the options to lower emissions. This is a common report that we produce for clients and gives a menu of options and often takes into consideration the required timing of other projects so that sustainable changes are made at the most appropriate time.
© Steve Mayes
Phase Two – We will go through this report with them and decide which of these changes we can invest in as part of our double offset*. We will seek to do this alongside contractors and supply chain partners, who will be assisting us to implement any chosen changes. Our engineers will also help provide staff and students with the opportunity to learn about climate change, the importance of sustainability and play an active part in helping your school make decisions and to decarbonise. If successful, this pilot will be rolled out to other schools throughout the UK and potentially the world and could also be adopted for other public sector properties. It is an opportunity for the construction industry to help improve the quality of education facilities in our community.
Benefits: Advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint Help from contractors to make the necessary changes Reduction in energy usage and cost Education opportunities for the students around the importance of sustainability and practical applications that they can use elsewhere Opportunity upgrade to an exemplar low carbon school
*Double offset – Cundall is a carbon neutral business (certified by the Carbon Trust) but we have pledged to go further. This will be done by both reducing our carbon emissions but also by offsetting more. We will continue to purchase gold standard offsets but will then also offset by investing in the carbon reduction of local organisations.
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