Why an EMS is the Key by Clive Bodenham, Founder of Clarke Controls
Ask any facility manager in the education sector what challenges they face, and they’ll likely reel off a long list spanning rising energy bills across sprawling estates, improving student comfort, meeting sustainability targets, complying with complex legislation and much more. With many schools, academies and colleges operating out of ageing buildings or split-site campuses, those pressures are only intensifying.
Yet there is a solution that doesn’t involve major disruption or high capital expenditure: an Energy Management System (EMS). At Clarke Controls, we help educational institutions of all sizes reduce heating costs and carbon emissions by up to 25% year-on-year.
For estates and facilities managers, an EMS offers a smart, scalable way to take control of energy use across classrooms, offices, sports halls and support buildings. Whether you’re responsible for a standalone secondary school or a multi-academy trust, a modern EMS will reduce cost, boost comfort and help you deliver on your sustainability goals. And hopefully make that list of challenges slightly easier to tackle!
Understanding the Education Energy Challenge
Heating and energy efficiency remain some of the most expensive operational issues in UK schools. According to recent data, heating alone can account for up to 75% of total energy usage in a typical education building. And unlike other sectors, educational estates often feature a wide mix of building types – from Victorian-era halls to new-build classrooms, all with vastly different heating and control requirements. Factor in irregular occupancy patterns, varying usage schedules and large open spaces like sports halls or assembly areas, and the result is a high-risk environment for energy waste.
Those issues are compounded by system failures – systems are left running unnecessarily, doors are left open without shut-off triggers or entire wings are heated for the sake of one occupied classroom. Manual controls, if used at all, are rarely monitored or optimised, leaving energy bills to spiral and students or staff to suffer through uncomfortable conditions.
This is exactly where a purpose-built EMS comes into its own.
What Is an Energy Management System (EMS)?
An EMS is a cloud-based platform designed to monitor, control and optimise your heating and energy use in real time. Unlike a traditional building management system (BMS), which may handle everything from lighting to access control, a modern EMS focuses exclusively on heating and energy performance – making it a more targeted, intelligent and cost-effective solution.
At Clarke Controls, we design EMS platforms that work with your existing systems. You don’t need to rip out heating controls or shut down parts of your estate. Our EMS is built to integrate with old and new infrastructure alike, giving you immediate insight and control over how and when energy is used.
Real-World Benefits for Schools and Campuses
1. Reduce Heating Costs by up to 25%
One of the most effective ways to cut costs by using an EMS is by dividing buildings into zones and automating heating based on real-time usage patterns. This prevents unnecessary energy use and only heats the areas where it’s needed. Schools can avoid heating entire blocks for one or two rooms, and ensure sports halls or assembly areas are only warmed when scheduled. Historically, our clients have seen their energy use reduce by up to 25% providing year-on-year savings.
2. Improve Occupant Comfort and Learning Conditions
Maintaining stable, comfortable temperatures in classrooms is vital for student concentration and wellbeing. With zoned control, the EMS ensures each teaching space is kept at optimal temperatures – without over or under-heating neighbouring rooms. The system is also tamper-proof, reducing the risk of staff overriding settings or leaving windows open with radiators running. This improves consistency and reduces temperature disputes across departments. Boost buttons allow for temporary heating in cold-prone zones, without reprogramming the entire system, and are ideal for exam periods, staff meetings or out-of-school use (i.e. sports teams using the sports hall).
3. Manage Multi-Building Estates Remotely
For academies, trusts, or colleges operating across multiple sites, a cloud-based EMS allows facilities managers to monitor and adjust heating settings across the entire estate from a single dashboard. Whether you’re on-site or off-site, you have full access to live data, alerts and controls – helping you respond quickly to issues or inefficiencies. From turning down heating in unused blocks during holidays to adjusting for daylight saving time or weather events, everything can be done remotely and securely and across multi-site estates.
4. Simplify Sustainability Compliance and Net Zero Targets
As the education sector faces growing pressure to decarbonise, an EMS can be a vital tool for reducing Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect) emissions. By reducing gas consumption, improving system efficiency and providing real-time energy tracking, the EMS helps you move measurably toward your net-zero goals. Large school academies also have to be compliant with the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework. Having an EMS will help produce the necessary data for environmental audits, funding applications or ESG reporting.
5. Scalable Architecture
Whether you’re managing a primary school or a 30-site multi-academy trust, an EMS can grow with your estate. Its cloud-based architecture allows you to monitor, control, and compare energy use across multiple locations from one central dashboard – ideal for both small sites and large, more complex portfolios.
Supporting the Shift to Low-Carbon Heating
As many schools explore heat pumps, biomass systems or district heating schemes, an EMS can help coordinate these technologies to ensure they operate as efficiently as possible. An EMS delivers real-time control and insight, helping you maximise return on investment from any low-carbon heating upgrade.
Investing in the Future of Education Estates
Sadly, the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme has been wound up after awarding £3.5 billion in grants across nearly 1,400 public sector projects.
There are still avenues for government funding available via the School Capital Fund, with £640 million set to be allocated in the 2026-27 financial year and a further £400 million the year after. Another fund is the £500 million energy efficiency grant to schools, sixth-form colleges, and further education colleges from the Department for Education (DfE)
An EMS often qualifies under these schemes as a low-disruption, high-impact solution that delivers measurable carbon savings. By starting with smart control, schools can make immediate progress toward net zero without waiting for large-scale infrastructure investment. It also provides the data and insights needed to plan future improvements.
Final Thoughts
Energy Management Systems are no longer just a luxury for large educational establishments – they are a vital tool for cost-conscious, sustainability-focused education estates.
They’re a cost-effective and time-efficient way for facility managers in educational institutions to manage costs, carbon emissions and make their estate more efficient and sustainable.
About Clarke Controls
Clarke Controls are Energy Management System specialists who regularly save clients over 25% on their energy bills. We’re a leading manufacturer and installer of commercial Energy Management Systems (EMS) with over two decades of experience and nationwide clients, including Marshalls and Wickes. Serving businesses of all sizes across the UK and Ireland, our EMS helps clients cut energy consumption, saving over 25% on heating and energy bills while helping to reduce their carbon footprint.
We offer a comprehensive range of services, including energy strategy formulation, energy audits and cutting-edge LED lighting systems. Our mission is to save you money, help the environment and lower your energy consumption through engagement and practical solutions. With a proven track record and a commitment to excellence, we are your experienced partner in achieving your energy efficiency goals.