Oct. 10 2023
Source Page: More funding to schools, hospitals and public buildings to lower energy use and save on bills, and cut carbon emissionsFound: More funding to schools, hospitals and public buildings to lower energy use and save on bills, and cut
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the report of the National Audit Office entitled, Environmental Sustainability Overview: Department for Education, published on 28 June 2023, what steps she is taking to support schools that are not included in the School Rebuilding Programme to become net zero carbon in operation.
Answered by Nick Gibb
In November 2021, the Department published a new zero carbon and climate resilient specification, for use on all new and refurbished school and college buildings. As well as being used on the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP), the specification sets a wide range of performance and construction standards, including environmental above those required in building regulations. This includes design specifications so that buildings can be adapted for a 2°C rise in average global temperatures and future proofed for a 4°C rise, to adapt to the risks of climate change, including increased flooding and higher indoor temperatures. This is also available for use by responsible bodies and others who are encouraged to follow its minimum standards.
The Department is also currently testing a range of approaches to operating schools at zero carbon; improving energy efficiency, and resilience to the effects of climate change; as well as using ultra-low carbon construction methods, that can be used to retrofit existing buildings, including the replacement of high carbon intensity heat sources.
The Department works closely with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to help schools and colleges access the £1.4 billion Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which supports the aim of reducing emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037. Information on the Scheme can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-sector-decarbonisation-scheme.
From October 2022, up to £635 million over the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years has been made available through Phase 3b of the scheme for installing low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures in public buildings.
Schools and those responsible for school buildings are also provided with guidance on sustainability, managing energy and water use and minimising waste in the Good Estate Management for Schools manual. This guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/good-estate-management-for-schools.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the percentage of maintained schools in England that will be retro-fitted with carbon neutral schemes by 2050.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department has not made an estimate of the percentage of maintained schools that will be retrofitted with carbon neutral schemes by 2050.
The Department’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy includes four strategic aims, one of which is ‘Net zero: reducing direct and indirect emissions from education and care buildings, driving innovation to meet legislative targets and providing opportunities for children and young people to engage practically in the transition to net zero'.
The strategy sets out the Department’s approach to retrofit as innovate, test, and invest. By piloting retrofit, the Department can determine the best technology and the best value for money approach. The Department wants to ensure the right technology is used before rolling out at scale.
The Schools Commercial Decarbonisation Project aims to pilot and test initiatives that will support schools to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, helping them to achieve net zero. The Department is also currently testing low cost, high impact interventions under the Resilient School Programme. The data and evidence gathered through this work will shape future delivery.
This includes the replacement of high carbon intensity heat sources through piloting energy pods, testing the feasibility of replacing school boilers with ground source or air source heat pumps, air quality monitoring and learning from the GenZero research and biophilic prototype school.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help (a) reduce emissions and (b) improve energy efficiency in maintained schools in England.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department takes its commitment to environment sustainability seriously. In November 2021, the Department updated its school building standards to ensure that all new schools will deliver net-zero carbon in operation. This update also included other sustainability improvements, including targets for increased greening and sustainable water management on school sites. These requirements can be accessed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employers-requirements-part-b-generic-design-brief .
In December 2022 the Department produced guidance to support all schools to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and therefore reduce their carbon emissions. This guidance can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-fe-college-estate.
Additionally, in 2022/23, £447 million of capital funding was made available to eligible schools and sixth form colleges to improve their energy efficiency.
Jan. 31 2024
Source Page: The Environment Strategy for Scotland. Delivering the Environment Strategy Outcome on Scotland's Economy: Evidence Base & Policy LeversFound: OtherLever (general) Lever (less general)90% reduction in GHG emissions vs 1990 Waterborne Carbon capture
Nov. 26 2008
Source Page: The Government response to the King review of low-carbon cars, November 2008. 32 p.Found: The Government response to the King review of low-carbon cars, November 2008. 32 p.
Mentions:
1: Sharon Hodgson (Lab - Washington and Sunderland West) parliamentary group on school food, I hear from food procurement specialists, school food providers, schools - Speech Link
2: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) I am impressed when I go to schools and see equal numbers of young boys in the same class, doing the - Speech Link
3: Wera Hobhouse (LD - Bath) emissions is well documented. - Speech Link
4: Daniel Zeichner (Lab - Cambridge) carbon dioxide equivalent—a point made very well by my hon. - Speech Link
5: Robbie Moore (Con - Keighley) The Act also requires non-household municipal premises, such as businesses, hospitals and schools, to - Speech Link
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what targets her Department has set to help achieve the Government's commitments on net zero.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The department sets out its plans to set targets to meet net zero in ‘Sustainability and Climate Change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems’, which was published in April 2022 and can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainability-and-climate-change-strategy/sustainability-and-climate-change-a-strategy-for-the-education-and-childrens-services-systems.
The department is on track to set science-based targets from 2025, ensuring the department plays its part in reducing public sector emissions by 50% by the end of Carbon Budget 5 in 2032 and by 75% by the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037, against a 2017 baseline.
To support the monitoring of targets, the department is developing a 2017 baseline for schools and maintained early years settings. The department has supported the publication of a standardised reporting framework for higher and further education, and the standardised reporting framework for nurseries and schools is due to be published this year.
Mar. 21 2024
Source Page: UK protecting forests with £6 million boost for ZambiaFound: £6 million new funding to protect forests and cut emissions in Zambia coming on International Day
Mentions:
1: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) Does she agree that more could be done in our schools, to extend free school dinners universally, to - Speech Link
2: Alistair Carmichael (LD - Orkney and Shetland) emissions and, ultimately, for producers being able to access that much more diverse range of markets - Speech Link
3: Sarah Dyke (LD - Somerton and Frome) Many schools do not have the flexibility to do that. - Speech Link
4: Sarah Dyke (LD - Somerton and Frome) production that helps protect the environment, conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions - Speech Link
5: Jamie Stone (LD - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) value of grassland in holding and storing carbon is underestimated. - Speech Link