Commercial Services

Menu
You are here: Home / Local Councils / Building and Facilities (Local Councils) / Energy and Sustainability (Local Councils)

Energy and Sustainability (Local Councils)

In times of energy uncertainty and price volatility, these Service Level Agreements give you the information and tools you need to be able to manage your energy and water efficiently and ensure you are being charged correctly.

  • Provide you with online access to reports and energy and billing data via a web portal to illustrate your energy consumption and highlight anomalies. Existing customers can log in at Durham Energy Manager
  • In school support through the ECO2 Smart Schools Programme. You can choose from a menu of engagement options including staff and pupil awareness and empowerment sessions, training, school leadership meetings, energy surveys, and curriculum-based activities.
  • Provide each school with an annual energy report highlighting performance over the past 12 months and opportunities for improving energy efficiency.
  • Monitor and validate all energy and water accounts to eliminate overcharging and waste.
  • Monitor out-of-hours gas usage and provide temperature data loggers to identify where boilers are incorrectly programmed. We work with technical services to rectify and resolve these issues.
  • Track water use through billing data and online meter readings to identify unusual consumption against your benchmark. In addition, we annually review surface water drainage charges. For schools that suspect a water leak or have high consumption, we have arranged access to a half-hourly water monitoring service through Demeter (at an additional cost).

  • Our highly skilled and professional team have a wealth of experience and knowledge in energy, water, sustainability, and renewables.
  • Continuously investigate opportunities and funding sources that will enable capital investment in schools/academies such as Salix Finance.
  • We share opportunities for energy efficiency from third party organisations where schools will benefit.
  • Provide guidance for schools investing in energy efficiency products eg LED lighting, solar PV, and heat pumps.

  • We monitor and validate all energy and water accounts to eliminate overcharging and waste on electricity, gas, water, oil and biomass.
  • Regularly review the energy and non-commodity contracts to ensure your school is being charged the correct rates and we will advise of any changes.
  • Resolve any disputes with the utility companies on your behalf.
  • We provide access to the Durham Energy Manager energy data portal to enable accurate meter readings and validation checks.
  • Provide advice to the school funding team and academies directly to assist with budget setting and end of year financial reporting.
  • Liaise with all parties to organise new supplies and service/meter disconnections and arrange the subsequent closure of accounts.

  • We’ve commissioned fully qualified professionals that can provide Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports (at an additional cost). These are a statutory requirement for all public buildings with a floor area greater than 250m2 (most schools).
  • We advise and support schools with VAT and climate change levy exemptions where applicable.
  • We liaise with Northern Gas Networks and your gas supplier in the event of a gas leak to restore service with minimal disruption to the school.
  • We assist with the registration of renewables schemes.
  • Assist academy chains with SECR reporting.

  • Member only access to information on the Eco2 Smart Schools website including case studies, technology fact sheets and up to date news.
  • We will keep you informed on developments via emails, conferences, and the extranet as appropriate.
  • Dedicated account managers and energy advisors.