In its third year, the ACES programme continued to provide energy efficiency support to Oxfordshire’s county-maintained schools.

To date, the programme has reached over 60% of these schools, achieving actual carbon savings of 55 tonnes of CO2 as a direct result of implemented recommendations.

The potential carbon savings from all recommended actions amount to 1,437 tonnes of CO₂ out of a possible 2,521 tonnes – representing a 57% potential reduction in emissions.

In 2024/25, project partners at the Environmental Information Exchange (EiE) at Oxford Brookes University delivered 16 free energy assessments to schools.

Report recommendations included improved insulation (in boiler rooms, roofs, and walls), LED lighting upgrades, and larger-scale measures such as the installation of renewable energy systems. Low and no-cost measures made up 38% of recommended actions such as improved energy, heating, and hot water management – simple operational changes that can result in significant savings, often exceeding those from lighting upgrades or insulation alone.

The ACES team also continued to support schools in applying for Oxfordshire County Council’s interest-free loan scheme, which helps fund the installation of rooftop solar PV systems and LED lighting.