DOLLAR ACADEMY – ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Dollar Academy is committed to ensuring that the environmental effects of its activities comply with, and preferably improve upon, the demands made by government environmental legislation and codes of practice. It is incumbent upon all members of staff to ensure that they are conscious of the need to conserve energy and resources, and to promote the sensible management thereof whilst ensuring that the principal needs of staff and pupils are not jeopardised.

In conjunction with the Carbon Trust the Academy has begun to put in place a series of measures which will assist in achieving these aims. Measures to monitor the voltage of our power supplies are in hand; the phased replacement of boiler plant is taking place; energy conserving sensors are being installed; and water control measures are in place. Periodically work will be undertaken to assess the efficiency of our conservation measures, particularly in relation to our carbon emissions, in comparison with national benchmarks for educational buildings. It is the Academy’s aim:

• To minimise the consumption of fossil fuels and water and use energy from sustainable sources where practicable;
• To monitor energy expenditure and use;
• To buy fuels at the most economic cost and to maximise the use of fuel types which cause least harm to the environment, including the use of energy efficient plant and equipment;
• To ensure that the principles of good energy management are brought to the regular attention of all staff and pupils;
• To identify energy saving measures and practice energy efficiency throughout all our buildings, investing in appropriate plant and equipment where it is cost effective to so do;
• To ensure that the design of new buildings, and the refurbishment of old, takes full account of the need to minimise the carbon signature and the consumption of gas and electricity in the course of design and construction;
• To achieve an overall reduction in energy consumption, in line with the Government's goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions as a response to climate change, thereby conserving natural resources;
• To ensure that, where feasible, waste is recycled, and in any event, is minimised.

Some simple measures which can be adopted by all will help:

• Turn off lights and electrical equipment, especially computers, when they are not needed, particularly overnight, at weekends and during holidays;
• Close/open doors and windows during hot/cool weather. Report any inappropriate use of heating to the Janitor. Temperature controllers are gradually being introduced to the buildings;
• Do not waste water.

These simple measures will save the Academy thousands of pounds each year, as well as helping to achieve the broader aims of this policy.

JW
Nov. 2006