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Issue:- 29 March  2012

Climate change to drive up school electricity bill by up to £150 million in the North West

THE annual cost of electricity to run schools in the North West is expected to rise by hundreds of millions of pounds by 2030 as a result of climate change, warns RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

The RICS research report reveals that forecasted hotter summers and more extreme weather will force schools across the North West to use significantly more electricity to run their buildings; with the sector set to incur huge cost increases in just 18 years.

The RICS research undertaken by Sturgis Carbon profiling was commissioned to measure the impact of climate change on future energy demand in commercial buildings.

It shows that the average school building is ill-equipped to cope with the change in climate; with summer temperatures in the North West predicted to be up to 2°C higher by 2030 and up to 2°C cooler in the winter.

By 2030 a typical school building of around 2,500 square meters in the North West can expect to pay more than £7,000 per year in electricity alone, having a significant impact on the environment and in state school spend and investment.

Across the country, the report highlights that it is the South of England's schools, offices and hospitals that will incur the largest increase in electricity demand with the subsequent cost expected to rise to an additional £3.20 per square metre in London, compared to approximately £2.87 per square metre in the North.

The report also reveals that some of Britain's hospitals and schools could become obsolete by 2030 as the cost of refurbishing current buildings to cope with the impact of climate change may run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

North West RICS spokesperson, Jonathan Mills of Jones Lang La Salle said:- "Many of the North West commercial buildings are not energy efficient enough to suitably cope with the future predicted changes in the climate. Therefore, many existing schools, hospitals and offices are in danger of becoming too pricy to run and unsuitable to provide pupils, patients and workers with the right conditions to work, study and recover from illness.  It is important that property professionals in our region understand how they can and should adapt, and maintain their buildings now to ensure they are not only cost efficient but also sustainable for generations to come, otherwise electricity costs could spiral out of control."

An analysis of the current energy consumption of more than 60,000 non-domestic buildings across the country revealed that a building's function, design and technology, external temperature and climate volatility all play an essential role in driving electricity demand and use.

Alongside the expected temperature increases; it is the volatility between more extreme cold and warm weather that will have the greatest impact on electricity demand as more power is used to maintain a 'comfortable environment' for school pupils and office workers.

Merseytravel success in DfT funding bid

MERSEYSIDE is to benefit from over £4 million of Government funding with the successful award from the Department for Transport's Better Bus Area Fund Bid, announced this morning by Norman Baker, Minister for Transport.

The funding will allow a package of measures designed to improved bus interchange facilities at Southport town centre with the provision of new bus stops and shelters to produce a 'transport hub' and the introduction of 6 real time information screens; plus an improved waiting area for patients, visitors and staff at Arrowe Park Hospital with new shelters and a real time information screen to provide on-demand information.

The award will also fund improved bus stops in the Crosby area and further investment in bus waiting facilities on route 71/72 between Heswall and Liverpool City Centre, and passengers will see more on street Real Time Information Screens and the development of a phone app giving even greater access to public transport information.

Jim Barclay, Merseytravel interim Chief Executive said:- "The funding is a real boost in our bid to encourage people across Merseyside to leave their cars at home and switch to sustainable travel, whilst the existing passengers will also benefit from the improved facilities and increase in real time information provision."

Eggs-tra special Easter workshops

AN Easter eggs-travaganza is coming to Liverpool this weekend and everyone is invited to bring the children along for some family fun.  Merseyside Polonia, is celebrating Easter with special workshops being held at World Musuem Liverpool to give people an insight into Polish culture and bring communities together. Merseyside Polonia was set up in 2008 to strengthen bonds between Polish people and local residents and encourage friendships between people of different cultural backgrounds. It has been a huge success giving people the opportunity to get to know Liverpool’s Polish community better and enjoy Polish and international culture, films, food and art.  The workshops will give people the chance to decorate an Easter egg in the traditional Polish way with feathers, stickers and ribbons.  There will be decorated eggs on display, palms made of dried flowers that are taken to church on Palm Sunday and a traditional food basket that is usually taken to Church on the Saturday before Easter to be blessed.   Visitors will also be given the opportunity to make their own palms with paper flowers to take to church the next day for Palm Sunday.   A presentation will take visitors through the rituals surrounding Easter in Poland; from Fat Thursday (equivalent of Pancake Tuesday), through Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Stages of the Holy Cross, Saturday with food blessing, traditional Easter breakfast to Wet Monday when people spray each other with water.  Project co-ordinator, Gosia McKane, said:- "Merseyside Polonia continues to grow and grow, and we’re thrilled to be holding this fabulous day of family workshops at the World Museum. By bringing the celebrations not only to the community but to the heart of the city, we will be able to share Polish life and culture with many people from all over the city. Our festivities will give everyone the chance to find out all about a traditional Polish Easter, join in fun family activities and enjoy good food. Most importantly, these events capture what Merseyside Polonia is all about; fostering new friendships, celebrating diversity and culture and bringing communities together."

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