Disgyblion yn siarad â busnes yr ysgol neu’r rheolwr ystad am wella effeithlonrwydd goleuadau’r ysgol

In our journey towards creating an energy-efficient school, we acknowledged that we had many allies. Our business manager or estates manager played a pivotal role, as they had a clear understanding of our school's energy consumption. We shared the same vision, albeit driven by different reasons: our eco-team aimed to reduce our school's carbon emissions, whereas the business manager focused on the cost of energy. 

With the focus being on lighting in our school buildings, which is vital for the wellbeing of pupils and staff, we had a comprehensive discussion with our business manager or estate manager on this subject.

The right level and quality of light could significantly enhance the alertness and accuracy of those working under it. Moreover, lighting accounted for up to 40% of a building's electricity use, making it crucial in our quest to reduce energy consumption.

We sat down with the business or estate manager to discuss improving the efficiency of our school's lighting. Some of the key points on our agenda included:

1. Upgrading to the most efficient lighting available. We discussed replacing existing light bulbs and fluorescent tubes with low-energy LED lights. These lights reduced energy use, eliminated flicker and hum, extended lamp life and allowed dimming – making classrooms more comfortable. We ensured this was included in the school's purchasing policy so that each failed light was replaced with an LED equivalent.

2. Implementing occupancy sensors: These sensors could significantly reduce electricity use by dimming or switching off lights when a room was unoccupied. We considered adding these sensors to toilets and resource rooms that were only used occasionally.

3. Considering daylight sensors: Using these sensors to adjust artificial lighting in line with the amount of natural light in a room could potentially cut our electricity use by up to 40%.

4. Creating a maintenance plan: Regular cleaning of windows and skylights could reduce the need for artificial light. We discussed implementing a regular cleaning schedule to improve the performance of our lighting fixtures.

We also recognised that our teachers could contribute to this mission by decluttering around windows. By keeping windows clear of posters and resources, we could maximise the amount of natural light entering our classrooms, further reducing our reliance on artificial light.