Schools energy challenge
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?
- 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.
- 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).
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 for 2024 figures.
- Combine gas and electricity 2023 CO2e figures.
- Combine gas and electricity 2024 CO2e figures.
- Work out the difference between 2023 and 2024 (step 4 figure – step 3 figure).
- 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.