Advice concerning energy and water usage can be obtained from the Energy Management Group, Urban Design Department, (UDD), 1 Lancaster Circus Queensway, Birmingham B4 7DG.

The group procures energy and water saving installations to assist building users including schools in managing their costs and advises on environmental issues via audits, promotional activity and educational talks.

For further information contact 0121 303 6530 / 6456, Fax: 0121 303 7501.

Benchmarking

EAM is talking to a number of potential providers of Benchmarking tools.  These tools will enable individual schools to compare their energy and water consumptions with similar schools, and will be made available via the BGfL.

Climate Change Levy

The Climate Change Levy is a tax on the use of energy in industry, commerce, and the public sector, with offsetting cuts in employers contributions National Insurance Contributions.

The aim is to encourage more efficient use of energy in order to help meet targets for reduction of green house gas emissions.  The immediate impact on schools will be an increase in gas and more particularly electricity costs.  These increases can be reduced or eliminated by good practice.

Sustainability

Pursuing policies that conserve an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources. In practical terms this means:

• Designing and constructing buildings that minimise their impact upon the environment throughout their life.
  
  

• Optimising energy efficiency and water conservation through the use of appropriate technology, i.e. renewable energy options (solar & wind power), and water recycling.
  
  
• Using materials from sustainable sources, i.e. ensuring hardwoods are procured from forests managed to recognised environmental standards.