Leeds Conservatoire, a member of Luminate Education Group, has been awarded over £1.6m to make environmental improvements to its building.
The conservatoire will use the funds awarded through Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to replace old gas-fired boilers and subsequently connect the site to an existing district heating network. Energy efficiency improvements include the installation of double glazing and new LED lighting, as well as the replacement of air handling units and the building’s cooling system.
Professor Joe Wilson, Principal at Leeds Conservatoire, said, “We take sustainability seriously and are pleased that funds from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will help to reduce the conservatoire’s carbon footprint.
“We’re committed to becoming a net zero organisation by 2035, as outlined in Luminate Education Group’s newly launched Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development Pledge.”
Luminate Education Group’s institutions operate across multiple campuses plus smaller centres and community venues, with a substantial collective carbon footprint.
David Warren, Group Vice Principal for Development, added, “This investment is important to us as we strive to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions across the group.
“We have already been making our campuses more energy efficient through building improvements, waste reduction and energy generation, and are working on sustainable travel plans.
“We are also embedding sustainability into our curriculum, for example through offering carbon literacy training to all our students and staff, and increasing our green skills provision to support local employers as they embrace emerging technologies.
“We will be partnering closely with local organisations, businesses and community groups that value sustainability too, so we can coordinate our efforts and maximise the results.”
