Schools to benefit from energy-saving funding

The government has allocated more than £630 million to public buildings to upgrade their energy measures, such as heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and double glazing. The funding will mean that community buildings, like schools and universities, are able to make energy saving upgrades, which will contribute an estimated £650 million in savings for taxpayers per year on average over the next 12 years.

The University of York has been awarded £35 million to capture energy from beneath the Earth's surface to help deliver low-carbon heat to buildings on campus, and Worcester City Council will receive £90,000 to upgrade the King George V Community Centre, which is used for employability training and youth activities, with new heat pumps, solar panels and double glazing.

Other projects will be installed in council buildings, hospitals, and even a Green Heat Network that could help decarbonise landmarks like the Houses of Parliament using waste heat from the River Thames.

This follows Great British Energy's first major project to put solar panels on around 200 schools and 200 NHS sites, helping them to reinvest savings on their energy bills in teaching and healthcare. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor at the University of York Charlie Jeffery said: “Our geothermal project will be a powerful catalyst in our journey towards Net Zero, offering a significant reduction in carbon emissions and a greener future. 
 
“Beyond its crucial environmental impact, the site will serve as a living laboratory that will drive research, educate our students and bring benefits beyond our campus. 
 
“The support from the Government is a vital catalyst for this transformative endeavour, which we believe will empower the next generation of sustainability leaders and deepen community understanding of renewable energy technologies."