Energy Sparks started as a Transition Bath project back in 2011. It is now a separate charity supporting over 1000 schools and more than 500,000 pupils in saving energy and learning about climate change.
Over the last year, 89% of Energy Sparks schools that joined the programme before 2023 have seen a decrease in their gas consumption, and 67% have seen a reduction in electricity consumption. For the schools that saw a decrease in consumption, the average change in gas use was -19%, and the average change in electricity use was -9%.
Based on long term energy prices the average Energy Sparks primary has saved at least £3,000 off their energy bill over the last year and 12.8 tonnes of CO2, the average secondary has saved at least £12,000 and 48 tonnes of CO2. Most schools have now seen their energy tariffs increase by around 3 times the historic rates, so the recent and ongoing cost savings for most schools will be significantly more.
Much of Energy Spark’s work focusses on behaviour change, low cost measures which can significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. During the Easter holidays this year, prompted by an Energy Spark’s campaign almost 100% of Energy Sparks schools reduced their Easter holiday gas consumption compared with the previous year and 58% reduced their electricity consumption. Over the 2 week holidays their schools saved over 8 million kWh of energy, 1,500 tonnes of CO2 and over £700,000 compared to their term time use.
More information on it’s achievements in the last year are available in it’s first annual report here.