Leicester City Council and Energy Efficient Solutions Group’s Climate Action Partnership

‘In the face of one of our planet's most formidable challenges – climate change – Leicester City Council (LCC) has emerged as one of the leaders of sustainable innovation. Their environmental success has been propelled by a long-term partnership with Energy Efficient Solutions Group (EES Group). Together, the complexities of the climate crisis have been tackled head-on with a large-scale multi-technology innovation.’
 
Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our planet for current and future generations. It is affecting every aspect of our society, through agriculture, weather and environmental consequences that have significant implications for the World. The crisis is exacerbating societal inequalities and highlighting the necessity for imminent action to address the interconnected issues of social justice and environmental concerns.  
 
Education is a catalyst for driving the transition towards a more sustainable future. Over the past 15 years, Leicester City Council has been at the forefront of this shift, acknowledging the importance of sustainable education by encouraging schools to contribute towards tackling the climate crisis. This has been achieved through the ‘Eco-schools’ programme, which empowers young minds for collective environmental action.
 
Further recognising the importance that local councils play in addressing the climate crisis, LCC forged a transformative partnership with the Energy Efficient Solutions Group to implement a large-scale multi-technology initiative across 64 properties. Their collaborative journey began in 2019, after EES Group won a highly competitive UK-wide tender process, securing the opportunity to implement energy-saving projects across the estate.  
 
With over 15 years of experience in the renewable and sustainable industries, coupled with years of expertise working with schools, EES Group were recognised as the ideal company for this project. The council’s confidence in EESG was reinforced by their notable certifications, including the esteemed B Corp recognition, showcasing the company’s commitment to genuine environmental and societal impact. Additionally, their multi-technology solutions are quality assured by numerous accreditations, such as the UK’s Lighting Industry Association (LIA) and the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). EES Group maintains that environmental responsibility is at the forefront of its ethos, demonstrated through the environmentally safe disposal of replaced products, and a 10-year LED and 20-year solar PV warranty.  
 
Navigating a complex landscape of diverse buildings and large sites, EESG’s team overcame challenges with precision. A meticulous free site survey was conducted for each property to ensure a tailored design that maximised the utility of all 64 facilities.
 
At New College School, a state-of-the-art gymnasium required significant improvements to the environment to ensure a facility that met Olympic-level standards. The school underwent a transformative LED installation, with EES Group’s team successfully rewiring a complex lighting system to implement dimmable LEDs to create a multi-functional facility. Crucially, the fixtures were high-quality and uniform to fulfil the requirements of the gym in accordance with Sporting England’s recommendations. In total, over 2,600 LED fittings were installed, resulting in a 58% reduction in electrical usage. This translated into an annual carbon emission reduction of 5,300kg.
 
Moat Community College is one of the largest schools in Leicester City. EES Group’s team created an optimised solar PV design that generated significant energy savings for the school, yielding over 80,586kWh per annum. LCC requested that the installation be completed within a strict 5-day deadline to accommodate the school examinations. EES Group created a thorough Construction Phase Plan that meticulously addressed any threats to the project timeline, which ensured a smooth completion and successful installation. The school reaped significant benefits from this project, saving 18,780kg of carbon per year from a 264-panel array.  

As a result of this triumphant partnership, the city saw immense savings that signified a huge milestone in advancing its initiative. In total, LCC has saved over 780,000kg of carbon per year, which translated into £377,187 per year. The project created substantial improvements in the city’s energy production and, in turn, contributed to achieving the robust sustainability targets set out in the council’s decarbonisation agenda.  
 
Leicester City subsequently received several sustainability awards for their efforts in harnessing sustainable and renewable technologies. In total, 65 schools within the city have been awarded the Eco-Schools ‘Green Flag’, recognising their continued commitment to environmental action through sustainable learning and sustainable and renewable technology investment. This partnership propelled LCC in its journey towards carbon neutrality, which will significantly contribute towards a sustainable net zero carbon future. The partnership demonstrates the power of collaborative climate action to create a lasting legacy for future generations to be proud of.

EES Group has worked with numerous schools and educational institutions in the UK. If you want to learn more about their renewable and sustainable multi-technology solutions or are considering upgrading your fluorescent or LED lighting, head to www.eesgroup.co.uk or email info@eesgroup.co.uk.