Free Energy Display Meter for schools

The purpose of the Energy Display Meter is to provide real-time information about your school's electricity use in an easy-to-understand format which can be used as a teaching and learning tool. The project is being funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) following the interim recommendations of the Zero Carbon Task Force on how all schools could reduce energy consumption and promote a culture of energy awareness. The programme is being managed by Partnerships for Schools (PfS) and delivered by British Gas. PfS is responsible for the management and delivery of the government's schools capital programmes.

Our installation teams will arrive at the agreed time and date and contact the school representative nominated at the application stage. Installers will carry identification and CRB certification. They will need access to the switch room (i.e. where the existing electrical meter and main distribution board are located), so if keys are required for this room, please ensure they are available.
The installer will complete the work in the switch room and install software onto the PC nominated by the school representative. The installer will then test the software communication, and give a brief instruction to the school representative on its basic use. A comprehensive Information Pack has been developed to provide guidance on the equipment and display screens, the information they provide, and Key Stage specific guidance on how this can be used in lessons. It is expected that the duration of the works would typically be 3-4 hours.

This website is the primary source of information relating to the new meters. Alternatively, email DCSFenquiries@britishgas.co.uk or write to us at DCSF Enquiries Team, British Gas Business, Cippenham Court, Cippenham Lane, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 5AU. We will contact schools to confirm application details once submitted.

No - this is one strand of a broader DCSF initiative to make all schools more sustainable and raise energy awareness. It is the first step in a more wide-ranging set of measures focused on behaviour change and carbon management in schools which will be rolled out during the course of 2010.

No - the Energy Display Meter offer was developed based on a recommendation from the Zero Carbon Task Force. The meter is to provide real-time information about electricity use. It is seen as a way of encouraging students and school staff to become energy aware (and to understand the implications of their actions) - and to act on this to reduce energy consumption. And it is hoped that it will also be a useful tool which will help embed energy use and wider sustainability throughout the curriculum. It will not provide information for billing purpose and the data will not be centrally collated although the equipment can be used for this purpose in the future. Therefore we are considering how this might be procured.

Although the Energy Display Meter box that the DCSF is installing in your school does has the capability to measure other forms of energy, the dashboard which your school will see will only monitor electricity usage at this time.