The Constellation Trust is a group of seven primary schools; two secondary schools; and one alternative provision school located in East Yorkshire, each committed to working collaboratively to provide the highest quality educational experience for pupils.

Challenge

We first started working with The Constellation Trust when we procured new gas and electricity contracts. Historically the Trust had procured its energy through a Public Sector Buying Organisation (PBO), but it sought a solution that offered greater choice and flexibility, along with better visibility of energy spend. We helped the Trust to forward purchase its energy to take advantage of low wholesale costs, resulting in a significant saving.

The Constellation Trust was one of a number of MATs that needed to comply with Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) for the first time in 2020, which required the Trust to submit a report quantifying its carbon footprint within its annual report.

SECR was introduced in April 2019 to simplify energy and carbon reporting and to encourage qualifying organisations to implement energy efficiency measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Solution

The Constellation Trust sought our help to ensure it was complying with the new reporting requirements. We assigned a project manager to ensure all aspects of SECR reporting was delivered on time. The programme involved compiling the required data; undertaking the calculations and reporting requirements; and assessing the current performance of the Trust. We collated a range of energy data and set standard documented methodologies for data collection on a year-by-year basis and produced the required SECR report to be included within the Trust’s financial report. Our work included the development of a three-year strategy to deliver energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

Results

The SECR annual report will raise the profile of energy efficiency at board level, influencing decisions and driving the strategic consideration of energy efficiency and low carbon opportunities. This strategy will be valuable in delivering the immediate cost-effective energy improvements, driving The Constellation Trust’s strategic direction to Net Zero 2050.

Zenergi has also arranged water contracts, helping the Trust to take advantage of better prices and customer service following deregulation of the market, as well as the delivery of Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and associated optimisation reports.

Most recently Zenergi supported the Trust’s successful application for funding under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.