A Collective Effort

A Collective Effort for the Planet

The challenges of managing a large built estate are many and varied. When we add the need to think sustainably and always with a green agenda in mind, those challenges appear to grow exponentially.

To create opportunities for change that are both meaningful and sustainable, we need to consider a breadth of possibilities, the small ‘everyday’ to the very large. If we can imbed this approach into the everyday thinking of our building users and our operational managers, then this will mean we can achieve real change in the future.

Several projects, ideas and actions have been or are being worked upon within the Estates Team. One major project revolves around energy: we are currently investigating the possibilities of PV panels and other alternative methods, reviewing the feasibility of moving towards an electrical fleet of operational vehicles, and installing electrical car charging points in the College grounds.

Through ‘Measure My Energy’, data on electrical usage can be regularly monitored, whilst an Energy Audit Report was commissioned to provide a framework for improving sustainability through a range of developments. Sensor lighting has been introduced in common areas to reduce energy waste, and lighting across the school is now approximately 70% LED, with a rolling programme to increase this to 100%.

After the recently completed refurbishment, the College kitchens have been installed with a new air handling unit that is energy efficient. Our Head of Catering, Hannah Bond, is committed to reduce food waste at the school. Currently 65% of all food waste is recycled through an external company called Refood, which converts waste food into renewable energy. More to come in the next months as the Catering Team works closely with the pupil-led Green Group in an effort to reduce waste further.

Heating up old buildings has always been one of the challenges; we are now reviewing insulation levels in lofts, as well as developing our building management system controlling our all heating systems to increase their efficiency. We are also phasing out oil boilers and installing air source heat pumps (recently in Handford House and Valleyside) in an effort to find alternative energy sources.

KIM FISHER Estates Bursar

Lancing Sustainablity Week • 14–18 March 2022

Building on the work already underway across the school and the growing enthusiasm of Lancing pupils, the College will be running a full week of focused activity for pupils and guests. This will conclude in a symposium and exhibition for our Lower Sixth and other Year 12 pupils from local schools.

The symposium is being organised in co-operation with Target4Green, who has been working with schools around the world since 2016. The final day will draw together speakers and exhibitors from local sustainability groups as well as national and international organisations such as WWF-UK, Whale & Dolphin Conservation Trust and others. We hope that this week of focus will help raise pupils’ understanding and engagement in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and involve all the Lancing community.