Overview
St Faith’s School, an independent preparatory school in Cambridge, has been committed to sustainability and energy efficiency for over a decade. To enhance its energy management efforts, the school partnered with Optimal Monitoring to monitor and reduce energy consumption across its campus. By leveraging our energy monitoring software, St Faith’s has achieved significant cost savings and reduced carbon emissions while engaging students and staff in sustainable practices.
Challenges
- Reduce energy costs and waste while supporting sustainability goals.
- Improve visibility of electricity, gas, and water consumption.
- Engage staff and students in reducing energy use through real-time insights.
- Ensure quick identification and resolution of inefficiencies.
Solution
The energy monitoring and reporting software was deployed to track energy usage in real time, providing historical comparisons across electricity, gas, and water consumption. The system was integrated into the school’s daily operations, offering:
- Real-time dashboards in multiple locations for easy access by staff and students.
- Automated alerts to flag unexpected energy use.
- Comparative analytics to highlight inefficiencies and opportunities for savings.
Results & Impact
- Improved operational efficiency—adjustments to kitchen energy use, lighting schedules, and IT equipment power management.
- Faster issue resolution—alerts on abnormal consumption patterns allowed for immediate corrective actions.
- Electricity usage reduced by 13% in the last academic year.
- Gas consumption cut by 23%, leading to notable financial savings.
- Annual electricity costs down by 6% through behavioural change.
Next Steps
St Faith’s continues to expand its use of Optimal Monitoring’s systems, exploring ways to build a yearly carbon profile using the collected data. The school remains committed to improving energy efficiency and maintaining its reputation as a leader in sustainable education.
To measure is to manage, and you can’t do either if you’re not monitoring. The Optimal Monitoring system provides clear, communicative consumption data, enabling us to take real, immediate action to reduce energy waste.