Teach the Future has sent an open letter to the next Prime Minister. Here is the first part. You can read the whole thing here.
Dear Future Prime Minister,
When you are elected, we hope you will be ready to make significant progress towards net zero: we have the technology, we have most of the funding solutions, what must be done now is action.
Here are our suggested actions for your new government to decarbonise our schools during the critical first 100 days of government.
1. Stop Discouraging Air to Air Heat Pumps
Air to air heat pumps are the most efficient and widely compatible heat pumps, yet current funding for public sector (including schools) decarbonisation requires extra justification before funding is offered, and Air-to-air isn’t covered under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, even when systems are installed for heating only.
Many schools are running hot water systems 24/7. A new government should request that the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) update the L8 Code of Practice to specify scheduling hot water in buildings that are only used Monday to Friday in term time.
3. Reintroduce the SALIX Energy Efficiency Loan scheme for the public sector
Re-establish April 2021’s scrapped scheme and use revenue recycling payments to finance it.
4. Include lease and Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) options in PV Solar panel schemes
Revise the finance rules for the public sector to allow photovoltaic solar panels to be installed under lease or Power Purchase Agreements (where renewable energy is bought before it is produced, to finance the installation costs).
5. Close doors to save energy in schools
OFSTED needs to be asked to provide an additional note to their EYFS “free flow” framework that makes it clear that children can have easy access to the outside through automated or “children’s” doors, and that the classroom doesn’t need a door to outside to be kept open all day (as this leads to unnecessary heating needs).
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