Funded by the DfE, Climate Ambassadors match volunteer climate experts with education settings.
Part of Let’s Go Zero, Climate Action Advisors are independent experts who offer free support for schools, colleges, and nurseries across England.
Choose a specialist to complete a Building Condition and Decarbonisation Survey
What is a Decarbonisation Survey?
A Decarbonisation Survey is an essential step for education settings aiming to lower their carbon footprint, reduce energy costs, and align with sustainability targets. A Decarbonisation Survey builds upon information in your Building Condition Survey (BCS) or Condition Data Collection (CDC), and will help you identify priority areas and potential quick wins for decarbonisation.
Many settings will already have a BCS, as well as a CDC. This is an ideal starting point for developing a Decarbonisation Survey. You can request a copy of your most recent CDC from the Department for Education (DfE). This will provide valuable data on infrastructure aspects like heating systems, insulation, and windows.
If your BCS or CDC is five years old or more, you will need to commission a new BCS. You can embed sustainability considerations in your new BCS to potentially achieve two goals: evaluating structural integrity and identifying decarbonisation opportunities.
Why engage a specialist?
A professional service provider offers expertise beyond a standard building assessment. They can provide a decarbonisation-focused analysis that encompasses both immediate and longer-term opportunities to reduce carbon emissions. Here are the key advantages to using a professional for a decarbonisation survey.
Expertise: Specialists bring knowledge in energy usage, carbon emissions, and advanced technologies. They will be able to provide insights beyond simple building conditions, such as energy efficiency measures and sustainable practices suitable for your setting.
Access to funding: Many funding programmes now prioritise or require carbon reduction commitments. A professional decarbonisation survey will help you align with these eligibility criteria, increasing your chances of securing grants.
Regulatory compliance: A professional survey ensures compliance with relevant regulations and reporting standards, which are increasingly focused on sustainability.
Detailed baseline and tailored recommendations: A specialist decarbonisation survey provides a comprehensive overview of a setting’s current energy usage, emissions profile, and inefficiencies. It then outlines customised recommendations for achieving carbon reduction goals, such as renewable energy installation, upgrades to heating and lighting systems, and insulation improvements.
Long-term financial savings: Decarbonisation measures often result in significant energy cost savings. Professional surveys offer precise recommendations with a clear understanding of upfront costs and potential long-term savings, making it easier to weigh initial investment against future savings.
Improved learning environment: Decarbonisation can improve the indoor environment by optimising air quality, temperature control, and lighting. A better physical setting contributes to a healthier, more comfortable learning experience, with the added benefit of reducing the settings environmental impact.
Educational value for students: Engaging learners in decarbonisation projects offers real-world learning opportunities in sustainability, climate change, and green technology. Professional service providers can tailor surveys to include educational components, enabling findings to be integrated into the curriculum.
Organisations that can provide this service
Decarbonisation surveys can be provided by a wide range of organisations, each offering specialised expertise in energy efficiency and carbon reduction.
- Property consultants: offer a range of services, from condition surveys and funding support to project management and the redevelopment of entire sites.
- Building surveyors: Experts in assessing the condition and performance of buildings, which includes evaluating energy use, carbon emissions, and sustainability practices.
- Environmental consultancy firms: Experts in sustainability and environmental performance.
- Energy management companies: Specialise in energy audits and renewable energy solutions.
- BREEAM and LEED accredited consultancies: Offer guidance on decarbonisation and sustainability certification.
- Sustainability Non-Profit Organisations: Support schools with carbon reduction strategies and funding guidance.
What to look for in a specialist
These are the factors to consider when choosing a service provider.
Essentials
Qualifications and expertise
- Technical Expertise: Ensure the provider has up to date expertise in decarbonisation, sustainability, and energy efficiency. Look for providers with certifications such as:
- Experience in the education sector: Industry-specific experience is crucial as decarbonisation strategies vary by sector.
- Team competency The survey team should include engineers, sustainability experts, and energy consultants with experience in decarbonisation.
Track record and case studies
- References and testimonials: Ask for references from previous clients to verify their experience and success in carrying out similar surveys.
- Case Studies: Review case studies to understand how they approached decarbonisation and the results they achieved for other education settings.
- Independent reviews: Look for reviews or industry recognition that highlight the provider’s success in delivering decarbonisation surveys.
Technology and tools
- Data analytics and reporting tools: The use of advanced data analytics, energy modelling tools, and monitoring systems will help provide accurate insights and predictions.
Scope of services
- Comprehensive analysis: Ensure that the provider offers a holistic decarbonisation survey, including:
- the identification of low or zero cost measures that you can implement by adjusting building and equipment operational settings
- carbon saving initiatives that help reduce waste through heating and hot water systems, renewable energy, lighting and building fabric upgrades
- Tailored solutions: The provider should be able to offer customised recommendations based on your specific energy profile and decarbonisation aims.
Regulatory and funding support
- Compliance and legislation: The provider should be well-versed in any relevant local and international regulations.
- Funding support: If required, the provider should be able to demonstrate expertise in funding applications, such as experience with SALIX and Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) requirements. They should have strong communication and application writing skills, along with a proven track record in securing grants, knowledge of sustainability projects, and ability to provide tailored guidance.
Nice to haves
Cost and value proposition
- Transparency in pricing: The provider should give a clear breakdown of costs, including any potential hidden costs.
- Return on investment (ROI): Consider how the recommendations from the survey could lead to long-term savings or carbon credits, offering a tangible ROI on the service.
Post-survey support
- Implementation assistance: Some providers may offer ongoing support or guidance to implement decarbonisation recommendations.
- Monitoring and follow-up: Check if they provide post-survey services such as energy performance monitoring, emissions reporting, and periodic reviews to track your progress.
Choosing a provider with the right balance of expertise, transparency, and support will ensure a thorough and effective decarbonisation survey.
What to expect in a report
A comprehensive decarbonisation survey report should contain clear, actionable insights and detailed information about the current state of your operations, energy usage, and carbon emissions. It should also include recommendations for reducing your carbon footprint.
Summary
- Key findings from the Building Condition Survey, decarbonisation opportunities, and cost estimates.
Introduction
- Purpose of the survey
- Scope and methodology
Assessment findings
- Analysis of your buildings’ current specifications that identifies areas of improvement
- Energy assessment to provide insights into how your building uses energy and identify opportunities for cost savings
- Recommendations for energy-saving measures and how they can be achieved
- Cost estimates and payback calculations for each carbon saving measure recommended
Regulations and compliance review
- Relevant legislation that may impact any recommendations or improvements
Conclusion
- Areas of focus
- Follow-up actions
How to use the report
Short term
In the short term, once you have the survey report then you will need to understand its findings and recommendations so that you can analyse and prioritise actions.
Ideally the surveyors will present their key findings and recommendations to your key stakeholders and take any questions, in an online or face to face meeting. This is an important step in ensuring clarity and understanding. It will provide an opportunity to explore complex concepts and give all key stakeholders the opportunity to clarify their understanding and express any concerns, encouraging immediate feedback and promoting collaborative engagement in discussions. This should lead to better decision-making, encourage buy-in, and support the successful implementation of sustainability initiatives across the setting.
Long term
In the longer term, it's important to adopt a systematic approach to the survey’s findings and recommendations. You can do this by ranking each recommendation in order of preference and priority based on these criteria:
- Carbon reduction impact: how much each action could reduce emissions
- Cost: initial investment, operating costs, and potential savings
- Feasibility: technical and operational ease of implementation
- Return on investment (ROI): speed and size of financial return
- Timeframe: the expected time needed to implement and see results
- Risk: likelihood of success and potential obstacles
You can then select your preferred decarbonisation actions, and integrate these into your Net Zero plan.