Where energy goes in schools and care facilities and how to reduce costs

What is a small or medium education and community services business

Smaller sites that rely on lighting, air conditioning, heating, hot water, refrigeration, and IT, but do not need complex procurement.

Common examples

• Primary schools and early learning centres

• Community centres, libraries, and not‑for‑profits

• Small aged‑care homes and residential services

• Local health and community clinics

Typical profile

Quarterly bills, time‑of‑use tariffs, and quick savings that do not disrupt learning or care.

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What is a commercial and multi‑site operator

Larger networks that manage multiple campuses or facilities with sustained HVAC, hot water, and specialised services across buildings and sites.

Common examples

• Independent and multi‑campus schools

• Aged‑care and community care groups

• Training and tertiary facilities

• Council and state‑managed community venues

Typical profile

Monthly billing, interval metering, demand charges across sites, and procurement via tender to secure competitive rates over 1 to 5‑year terms aligned to risk appetite and contract goals.

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Challenges for small and medium organisations

• Heating, cooling, and ventilation loads across classrooms and halls

• Hot water and kitchen equipment driving usage

• Bills that shift with seasons and term time

• Budget constraints with limited time to compare plans and understand fees

• Older equipment that wastes energy

How Zembl helps

Energy bills, Energy insights, Energy solutions: we compare and secure competitive rates, surface usage insights, and help implement practical efficiency actions with minimal disruption to students or residents.

Challenges for multi‑site operators

• Managing energy across multiple buildings and campuses

• Aligning contract end dates and network charges across the portfolio

• Balancing comfort, air quality, and care standards with cost control

• Limited visibility of usage by building or service area

• Limited internal resources to run tenders and manage rollovers

How Zembl helps

Procurement strategy and usage insights tailored to multi‑site portfolios. We coordinate onboarding and keep contracts on track.

Two recent success stories

Westminster School reduces annual energy costs by $8,300

Independent school improving cost control with a better‑fit plan and clear pricing.

Delivering $245,000 in energy savings for St Antonio da Padova Residential Aged Care

Aged‑care provider achieving significant savings through structured procurement.

FAQs for education and community services

Where is energy used most in education and community facilities?

Energy is used for lighting, heating and cooling, computers, teaching equipment, kitchen areas and hot water systems. Larger facilities also rely on HVAC for multiple buildings, which drives higher usage.

Why do energy bills change across school terms and seasons?

Bills increase during extreme temperatures when HVAC systems work harder to maintain comfortable classroom conditions. Usage also varies depending on student numbers, building occupancy and after-hours programs.

How can small education centres and community groups reduce their energy costs?

They can reduce costs by comparing plans regularly, using efficient lighting, managing heating and cooling settings, switching off equipment when not in use and reviewing contract terms before they roll onto higher rates.

What drives high energy usage in large education facilities?

Large schools and community organisations have higher usage due to multi-building HVAC systems, lighting across large areas, computer labs, kitchen and canteen operations and extended operating hours for events and programs.

How can education providers improve energy efficiency across multiple buildings?

They can align contract end dates, install monitoring tools to track usage by building, upgrade older air conditioning units, optimise HVAC settings and review tariffs regularly. Understanding peak consumption helps reduce long-term costs.

Talk to a Zembl energy expert

We help education and community organisations act with confidence. Share your latest bill or, for multi‑site portfolios, recent interval data and site lists. We will compare options, present clear recommendations, and coordinate the change once approved.