Lincolnshire County Council faces significant challenges as it seeks to further reduce its carbon footprint, particularly in schools, a new report reveals.

The authority's Carbon Report for 2022-23, set to be presented to the council's Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee next Tuesday, shows that schools are the leading gas consumers, greenhouse gas emitters, and oil consumers in the county compared to any other council buildings.

Over the past decade, the county council has made commendable strides, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 51.4% since 2016/17. This achievement is attributed to decreased electricity use, estate downsizing, energy efficiency investments, and the decarbonisation of the electricity grid.

However, the report cautions that most "quick win energy savings" have been achieved, and future carbon-saving projects might increase building operational costs.

A deep dive into the numbers:

• Schools in Lincolnshire produced 2,270 tonnes of CO2 emissions from their gas consumption in 2022-23, surpassing the emissions from LCC's own buildings, which totalled 2,258 tonnes of CO2.
• Despite significant reductions in gas consumption over the years, schools emitted 12,461,612kWh in 2022-23, a figure that exceeds emissions from LCC's buildings, which stood at 12,392,095kWh.
• Oil consumption in schools is also concerning, with schools using a staggering 3,688,436kWh, significantly more than the LCC's buildings at 622,484kWh.
• This consumption resulted in 906 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from schools, compared to just 153 tonnes from Lincolnshire County Council's buildings.

The report acknowledges a significant reduction in emissions in 2022-23 due to warmer weather, but highlights the challenges posed by schools housed in Victorian-era buildings.

The report states, "The council has a large number of older buildings which are difficult to make energy efficient.

"Many of our schools have at least parts that are from the Victorian era, and it will be a challenge to make these buildings energy efficient and net zero carbon."

Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children's services at LCC, highlighted the national funding sources available to schools for energy efficiency.

"This has been used to upgrade boilers, install LED lighting, improve roof insulation and other beneficial measures," she said.

She also mentioned the recent £500 million Energy Efficiency Grant provided by the DfE to shield schools from rising energy costs.

"The funding was for improvements to help schools better manage their energy usage, which will also bring environmental benefits," she added.

Cllr Colin Davie, executive member for economic development, environment, and planning at LCC, added: "The council continues to work hard to reduce its carbon footprint, and we remain committed to helping the UK become net-zero by 2050.

"There was greater use of coal-fired and gas power stations by energy providers in winter 2022/23, leading to an expected increase in greenhouse gas emissions related to our electricity use in 2023/24."

Academies, operating independently from the county council, also face challenges.

Nick Law, headteacher at Carre's Grammar School, noted the school's commitment to energy efficiency but highlighted financial constraints.

"We do take energy efficiency and the environment seriously at Carre's and are always in the process of reviewing, and adapting, our energy systems to reduce emissions where possible," he said.

"In recent years we have installed energy efficient lighting with motion sensors, improved our glazing and have a staff car sharing system.

"But the harsh reality is that such projects come with a price, and school budgets have been so tight in recent years that our focus has been on maintaining facilities and quality education for the students.

"Large scale investment in new green technologies is unlikely unless grants are provided or funding is improved."

Councillor Marianne Overton, a Lincolnshire Independent Councillor and Local Government Association member, stressed the importance of making buildings more energy-efficient.

She urged caution over a national push for larger solar farms, warning that they might increase the use of carbon.

She called for cost-effective solutions to be priorities. She also warned against building new schools to replace those in Victorian-era buildings, noting that they might also increase carbon consumption.

"If we did some simple, basic insulation, it would have a dramatic payback," she said, highlighting the effectiveness of wall insulation and solar panels on existing buildings.

As Lincolnshire progresses, collaboration between the council and schools will be pivotal in realising a greener future.