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Climate change
to drive up school electricity bill by up to £150 million in the
North West
THE annual cost of
electricity to run schools in the North West is expected to rise by
hundreds of millions of pounds by 2030 as a result of climate
change, warns RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
The RICS research report reveals that forecasted hotter summers and
more extreme weather will force schools across the North West to use
significantly more electricity to run their buildings; with the
sector set to incur huge cost increases in just 18 years.
The RICS research undertaken by Sturgis Carbon profiling was
commissioned to measure the impact of climate change on future
energy demand in commercial buildings.
It shows that the average school building is ill-equipped to cope
with the change in climate; with summer temperatures in the North
West predicted to be up to 2°C higher by
2030 and up to 2°C cooler in the winter.
By 2030 a typical school building of around 2,500 square meters in
the North West can expect to pay more than £7,000 per year in
electricity alone, having a significant impact on the environment
and in state school spend and investment.
Across the country, the report highlights that it is the South of
England's schools, offices and hospitals that will incur the largest
increase in electricity demand with the subsequent cost expected to
rise to an additional £3.20 per square metre in London, compared to
approximately £2.87 per square metre in the North.
The report also reveals that some of Britain's hospitals and schools
could become obsolete by 2030 as the cost of refurbishing current
buildings to cope with the impact of climate change may run into
hundreds of thousands of pounds.
North West RICS spokesperson, Jonathan Mills of Jones Lang La Salle
said:- "Many of the North West commercial buildings are not
energy efficient enough to suitably cope with the future predicted
changes in the climate. Therefore, many existing schools, hospitals
and offices are in danger of becoming too pricy to run and
unsuitable to provide pupils, patients and workers with the right
conditions to work, study and recover from illness. It is
important that property professionals in our region understand how
they can and should adapt, and maintain their buildings now to
ensure they are not only cost efficient but also sustainable for
generations to come, otherwise electricity costs could spiral out of
control."
An analysis of the current energy consumption of more than 60,000
non-domestic buildings across the country revealed that a building's
function, design and technology, external temperature and climate
volatility all play an essential role in driving electricity demand
and use. Alongside the expected temperature increases; it is the volatility
between more extreme cold and warm weather that will have the
greatest impact on electricity demand as more power is used to
maintain a 'comfortable environment' for school pupils and office
workers. |
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Merseytravel success in DfT funding bid
MERSEYSIDE is to benefit
from over £4 million of Government funding with the successful award
from the Department for Transport's Better Bus Area Fund Bid,
announced this morning by Norman Baker, Minister for Transport.
The funding will allow a package of measures designed to improved
bus interchange facilities at Southport town centre with the
provision of new bus stops and shelters to produce a 'transport hub'
and the introduction of 6 real time information screens; plus an
improved waiting area for patients, visitors and staff at Arrowe
Park Hospital with new shelters and a real time information screen
to provide on-demand information.
The award will also fund improved bus stops in the Crosby area and
further investment in bus waiting facilities on route 71/72 between
Heswall and Liverpool City Centre, and passengers will see more on
street Real Time Information Screens and the development of a phone
app giving even greater access to public transport information.
Jim Barclay, Merseytravel interim Chief Executive said:- "The
funding is a real boost in our bid to encourage people across
Merseyside to leave their cars at home and switch to sustainable
travel, whilst the existing passengers will also benefit from the
improved facilities and increase in real time information
provision."
Eggs-tra special Easter workshops
AN Easter eggs-travaganza
is coming to Liverpool this weekend and everyone is invited to bring
the children along for some family fun. Merseyside Polonia, is
celebrating Easter with special workshops being held at World Musuem
Liverpool to give people an insight into Polish culture and bring
communities together. Merseyside Polonia was set up in 2008 to
strengthen bonds between Polish people and local residents and
encourage friendships between people of different cultural
backgrounds. It has been a huge success giving people the
opportunity to get to know Liverpool’s Polish community better and
enjoy Polish and international culture, films, food and art.
The workshops will give people the chance to decorate an Easter egg
in the traditional Polish way with feathers, stickers and ribbons.
There will be decorated eggs on display, palms made of dried flowers
that are taken to church on Palm Sunday and a traditional food
basket that is usually taken to Church on the Saturday before Easter
to be blessed. Visitors will also be given the
opportunity to make their own palms with paper flowers to take to
church the next day for Palm Sunday. A presentation will
take visitors through the rituals surrounding Easter in Poland; from
Fat Thursday (equivalent of Pancake Tuesday), through Ash Wednesday,
Palm Sunday, Stages of the Holy Cross, Saturday with food blessing,
traditional Easter breakfast to Wet Monday when people spray each
other with water. Project co-ordinator, Gosia McKane, said:-
"Merseyside Polonia continues to grow and grow, and we’re
thrilled to be holding this fabulous day of family workshops at the
World Museum. By bringing the celebrations not only to the community
but to the heart of the city, we will be able to share Polish life
and culture with many people from all over the city. Our festivities
will give everyone the chance to find out all about a traditional
Polish Easter, join in fun family activities and enjoy good food.
Most importantly, these events capture what Merseyside Polonia is
all about; fostering new friendships, celebrating diversity and
culture and bringing communities together." |
