We're putting the challenge to Falkirk Council High Schools to reduce their energy usage.

The competition will run from 01 October 2024 to 31 March 2025. The aim is to reduce energy use month by month when compared to last year.

Energy use will be measured from:

  • Gas
  • Electricity

This will help reduce emissions from schools and make sure we're doing our bit for climate change. It's also a great leadership opportunity for students and helps reduce running costs of schools!

Leaderboard

Rank School 2023/24
total tCO2e
2024/25
total tCO2e
tCO2e reduction
 2023 - 2024 (%)
1 Graeme High School 376.7288471 307.6933547 18%
2 Larbert High School 464.0717062 415.1131141  11%
3 Falkirk High School 298.7161729 284.5812294 5%
4 Denny High School 362.2459246 347.2972945 4%
5 St Mungo's High School 318.8228713 313.5909678 2%
6 Braes High School 356.3308091 362.0705881 2%
7 Carrongrange High School 97.56937294 111.6084626 -14%

tCO2e = tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent

2024 / 2025 figures

School Gas Electricity Total tCO2e 2024
October 2024
(kWh)
November 2024
(kWh)
December 2024
(kWh)
January 2025
(kWh)
February 2025
(kWh)
October 2024
(kWh)
November 2024
(kWh)
December 2024
(kWh)
January 2025
(kWh)
February 2025
(kWh)
Braes High School 216,098 272,692 362,406 452,266 357,880 56,085 61,015 53,264 56,906 53,447 285.5291718
Carrongrange High School 36,885 54,784 80,595 99,311 87,406 39,510 46,204 44,581 47,718 43,810 86.54579816
Denny High School 191,652 303,125 303,793 391,848 316,252 67,314 78,840 64,896 71,747 63,231 276.3457479
Falkirk High School 138,742 240,917 238,011 295,300 228,269 78,813 81,382 67,151 73,349 65,324 229.2927752
Graeme High School 210,649 262,594 269,778 314,130 290,986 51,988 63,616 56,619 62,341 60,272 241.9769429
Larbert High School 258,262 351,539 390,956 393,836 302,450 92,674 108,645 99,626 106,646 97,741 339.5406577
St Mungo's High School 190,370 244,593 257,137 358,630 297,877 66,950 72,772 60,572 64,482 58,126 247.0582198

2023 / 2024 figures

School Gas Electricity Total tCO2e 2023
October 2023
(kWh)
November 2023
(kWh)
December 2023
(kWh)
January 2024
(kWh)
February 2025
(kWh)
October 2023
(kWh)
November 2023
(kWh)
December 2023
(kWh)
January 2024
(kWh)
February 2024
(kWh)
Braes High School 240,155 308,471 327,560 371,051 387,011 49,625 57,059 52,078 57,110 61,064 272.8826242
Carrongrange High School 36,046 39,629 59,536 90,539 71,769 37,983 42,870 41,488 43,043 42,943 75.54702738
Denny High School 224,491 296,554 328,219 381,530 310,283 69,276 87,962 71,345 79,992 79,245 289.0703876
Falkirk High School 152,852 226,126 238,957 292,365 239,896 79,890 94,209 78,317 86,397 87,554 236.6973929
Graeme High School 268,104 342,822 328,958 396,382 354,592 58,904 66,686 63,406 70,823 65,609 298.270585
Larbert High School 293,286 397,951 411,969 456,894 392,484 88,938 109,018 102,545 109,970 105,521 370.416525
St Mungo's High School 200,059 261,734 278,590 317,944 264,067 66,317 81,196 70,893 77,916 75,006 254.9803212

How is this calculated?

  1. Work out the emissions from gas for 2023. To do this: combined 2023 months gas kWh x 0.18293 (gas emissions factor) divide by 1000.
  2. Work out the emissions from electricity for 2023. To do this: combined months 2023 electricity kWh x 0.20707 (electricity emissions factor) divide by 1000).
  3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for 2024 figures.
  4. Combine gas and electricity 2023 CO2e figures.
  5. Combine gas and electricity 2024 CO2e figures.
  6. Work out the difference between 2023 and 2024 (step 4 figure – step 3 figure).
  7. Work out CO2e reduction as a percentage of 2023 usage (step 6 figure / step 4 figure).

Prizes

  • 1st place - £2,000
  • 2nd place - £1,000
  • 3rd place - £500

There will be additional prizes for innovative ideas and the best digital awareness campaign!

School's must demonstrate student involvement in the planned spending of prize money.

Why is this important?

Gas

The average high school in Falkirk uses 2,517,846 kWh of gas per year. That equals about 460 tonnes of CO2.

If we could reduce electricity use in each school by 5%, we'd save 230 tonnes of CO2 emissions – the same as 11,000 trees! With that figure, we'd also reduce gas bills by £74,460 per year across all high schools!

Electricity

The average school in Falkirk uses 780,671 kWh per year in electricity. That equals 162 tonnes of CO2.

If we could reduce electricity use in each school by 5%, we'd save 81 tonnes of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of the annual emissions of 112 cars! With that figure, we'd also reduce electricity bills by £124,071 per year across all high schools!

Info for teachers

We have a range of guidance and support available for teachers and support adults for the challenge. Take a look on our Learning for Sustainability site.

Sign up/contact us

Head teachers have been contacted to sign up to the challenge. Speak to your head teacher to find out whether your school is onboard.

If you have any questions, email us at climatechange@falkirk.gov.uk.

Data reports for schools

Check back on the 15th of each month to see your school's monthly energy use compared to the previous year.

You can also see your school's data in much more detail with hourly usage. Contact us at climatechange@falkirk.gov.uk so we can set up your access to the platform with this info.