Educational institutions are among the most energy-intensive buildings in the non-commercial sector, due to their large floor areas, extensive lighting, long operating hours, ICT equipment, and, increasingly, climate control systems. The type and scale of the institution — whether a small primary school, a large academy, a college campus, or a multi-building university — has a significant impact on energy demand. Our data-rich guide explores typical monthly energy cost for UK schools, colleges, and universities in 2025.
Typical monthly energy costs by education institution type
Most schools, colleges, and universities spend between £1,200 and £95,000 per month on combined gas and electricity. The wide cost range is due to differences in building scale, number of students, boarding operations, laboratories, sports facilities, and year-round usage.
| Institution type | Electricity (kWh/month) | Gas (kWh/month) | Monthly electricity cost | Monthly gas cost | Total estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small primary school (up to 200 pupils) | 5,000–12,000 | 8,000–15,000 | £1,050–£2,500 | £520–£1,200 | £1,600–£3,700 |
| Large primary or small secondary (200–600 pupils) | 12,000–25,000 | 15,000–30,000 | £2,500–£5,200 | £980–£2,400 | £3,500–£7,600 |
| Secondary school (600–1,200 pupils) | 25,000–45,000 | 30,000–60,000 | £5,200–£9,300 | £1,950–£4,800 | £7,000–£14,000 |
| FE college campus | 60,000–120,000 | 70,000–140,000 | £12,500–£24,000 | £4,400–£9,700 | £16,500–£33,700 |
| Small university building (single faculty) | 90,000–180,000 | 60,000–120,000 | £18,900–£36,800 | £3,900–£8,200 | £23,000–£45,000 |
| Medium university campus | 200,000–400,000 | 180,000–350,000 | £42,000–£84,000 | £11,500–£23,000 | £53,000–£107,000 |
| Large multi-site university | 400,000–800,000+ | 350,000–700,000+ | £84,000–£168,000 | £23,000–£46,000 | £107,000–£214,000 |
Assumptions used:
- Electricity unit rates: 20–23p/kWh
- Electricity standing charges: £1.75–£4.50/day
- Gas unit rates: 6.8–8.5p/kWh
- Gas standing charges: 70p–£2.40/day
- Large institutions may access wholesale or negotiated tariffs.
Annual costs converted into monthly estimates
| Institution type | Typical annual energy spend | Monthly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Small primary school | £20,000–£45,000 | £1,600–£3,700 |
| Typical secondary school | £80,000–£165,000 | £7,000–£14,000 |
| FE college | £200,000–£400,000 | £16,500–£33,500 |
| Small university block | £275,000–£540,000 | £23,000–£45,000 |
| Full university estate | £1.1–£2.4 million | £92,000–£200,000 |
Where schools and universities use the most energy
Energy demand profiles differ depending on building type.
| Usage category | Typical share of total consumption | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heating (gas or electric) | 35–55% | High due to large spaces, old buildings, boarding facilities. |
| Classroom and corridor lighting | 10–20% | Long daytime usage; LEDs reduce this significantly. |
| ICT rooms and equipment | 8–18% | Servers, ICT suites, laptops, printers, smartboards. |
| Science labs and tech rooms | 5–15% | High extraction loads, refrigeration, specialised equipment. |
| Catering and canteen operations | 5–12% | Cookers, hot water, refrigeration, dishwashers. |
| Sports halls and swimming pools | 10–25% | HVAC, air handling, pool heating, pumps, showers. |
Swimming pools in schools and universities can add £400–£1,500 per month to energy bills depending on pool heating and ventilation requirements.
Billing differences across institution types
| Feature | Schools | Colleges | Universities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contracts | Fixed-rate, 1–3 years | Multi-site, blended tariffs | Wholesale or negotiated |
| Smart meters | Common | Partial | Extensive |
| Government support | Yes (state schools) | Limited | None |
| Renewable energy use | Solar gaining popularity | Mixed | High adoption (solar, biomass, CHP) |
| Monitoring | Basic | Intermediate | Advanced energy management systems |
Why large universities pay more despite efficient systems
Universities often have newer buildings and better energy monitoring but use:
- Research labs with continuous refrigeration and fume extraction
- Catering hubs and food courts
- Full-campus district heating systems
- Multiple IT data centres
- 24/7 energy use in libraries, student halls, and laboratories
Some universities operate like small towns, with year-round energy usage.
Cost impact of specialist facilities
| Facility type | Additional monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Teaching kitchens | +£800–£1,800 |
| Swimming pools | +£400–£1,500 |
| Media studios | +£200–£600 |
| Server rooms / IT labs | +£300–£1,200 |
| Boarding accommodation | +£1,000–£4,000 |
How to reduce energy costs in educational buildings
- Install LED lighting across classrooms, corridors, and sports halls (saves 30–55%).
- Introduce zoned heating controls to reduce gas use by 15–25%.
- Replace ageing boilers and improve insulation to cut heating consumption by 10–40%.
- Use occupancy sensors to reduce unnecessary lighting and HVAC use.
- Install solar PV where roof space is available — many schools save £8,000–£20,000 per year.
- Consider battery storage for peak shaving and cheaper off-peak energy.
Summary
Energy costs for schools, colleges, and universities vary dramatically based on building age, floor area, number of pupils or students, and specialist facility usage. Small schools may spend under £4,000 per month, while large universities can spend over £200,000 per month, especially with high-energy buildings such as laboratories, sports facilities, student accommodation, and catering hubs. By using monitoring systems, improving heating efficiency, and switching to renewables, educational institutions can significantly reduce monthly energy bills.
FAQ
A small primary school with up to 200 pupils typically spends between £1,600 and £3,700 per month on combined gas and electricity, depending on building age, heating type, and usage of ICT and catering facilities.
Yes. A secondary school with 600–1,200 pupils usually spends £7,000 to £14,000 per month, due to larger floor area, higher heating load, multiple computer labs, sports halls, and often catering kitchens.
Colleges typically spend £16,500 to £33,500 per month, as they often run specialist teaching facilities, workshops, science labs, kitchens, and media suites with higher electricity and heating demand.
Universities use energy across large estates, including laboratories, data centres, libraries, lecture halls, student accommodation, and catering. A medium university campus may spend £53,000 to £107,000 per month, while large multi-site universities may exceed £200,000 per month.
Heating is the biggest cost, often accounting for 35–55% of total usage. ICT equipment, science labs, swimming pools, sports halls, and catering kitchens also contribute heavily to monthly bills.
A swimming pool typically adds £400 to £1,500 per month, mainly due to water heating, air handling, and ventilation systems. This is higher in winter and in older buildings with poor insulation.
Heating-heavy buildings tend to be gas-dominant, as gas is usually cheaper per kWh. However, institutions with large ICT or laboratory use often spend more on electricity, sometimes exceeding 60% of total energy costs.
Yes. Colleges and universities can often secure negotiated or wholesale tariffs, saving 10–25% on electricity and gas compared to standard SME rates. Primary and secondary schools typically use fixed-rate contracts.
Yes. Switching to LEDs can reduce lighting costs by 30–55%, particularly in corridors, classrooms, offices, sports halls, and assembly spaces that are lit for long hours.
Simple actions like installing heating zoning, improving insulation, using occupancy sensors, cleaning HVAC filters, and turning off ICT equipment overnight can cut energy usage by 10–20% without major investment.