DfE Energy Assessments for Schools
Walker Energy Analysis carries out the technical assessments required by the DfE’s Technical Manual for school and college projects, using dynamic thermal modelling in IES Virtual Environment. The Technical Manual sets out its energy, overheating and daylight requirements together, under one Integrated Environmental Design section, rather than as separate documents. We deliver these as one coordinated package, Part L compliance, TM54 operational energy modelling, overheating risk, and daylight, feeding into the single Integrated Environmental Design Report the DfE requires.
What the Technical Manual Requires
Operational energy: buildings need to meet a maximum Energy Use Intensity, 52 kWh/m² for primary and special schools, 60 kWh/m² for secondary schools, 70 kWh/m² for colleges, and generate at least 60% of overall energy use from on-site renewables. This is demonstrated through a dynamic simulation model following CIBSE TM54, using the appropriate CIBSE Test Reference Year 2020 weather file, and needs to be developed through the design process so the final model reflects the actual completed design rather than early assumptions.
Overheating: assessed as an Overheating Risk Assessment, tested against the CIBSE DSY1 50th percentile low emission 2080 weather file as the primary check, representing a 2°C warming scenario. Buildings also need to demonstrate they can be adapted to remain comfortable under a more extreme DSY1 50th percentile high emission 2080 file, a 4°C scenario, without needing to alter the building’s structure or fabric.
Daylight: climate-based daylight modelling to ensure natural light is optimised throughout teaching spaces, addressed alongside thermal comfort and glare rather than as a standalone check.
Part L and carbon: as-designed Part L compliance carried through to an as-built BRUKL report and EPC at completion, alongside embodied and whole life carbon reporting at RIBA Stages 3, 4 and 6.
- CIBSE TM54 dynamic simulation model, developed and refined through the design process
- Energy Use Intensity and on-site renewable generation assessment against DfE targets
- Overheating Risk Assessment against both the 2080 low and high emission scenarios
- Climate-based daylight modelling for teaching spaces
- Part L as-designed assessment, carried through to as-built BRUKL and EPC
- Reporting formatted to feed into the DfE’s Integrated Environmental Design Report
Working at Any Design Stage
Concept design: early energy, daylight and overheating modelling to inform the Integrated Environmental Design Report and confirm the design is on track against DfE targets while it’s still open to change.
Technical design: the fully developed TM54 model, detailed overheating assessment against both 2080 scenarios, and detailed daylight modelling.
Completion: as-built Part L compliance and EPC, with the operational energy model confirmed against the completed building.
Why Work With Us
We’re a specialist energy consultancy. This is the core of what we do, not a sideline. Every assessment runs through IES VE as standard, we turn changes around quickly, and results come back in a format your team and the DfE’s technical reviewers can use immediately.
FAQs
Q: Is this the same as a standard planning energy statement?
A: No. School projects follow the DfE’s Technical Manual, which requires Part L compliance, TM54 operational energy modelling, overheating assessment and daylight modelling together, feeding into a single Integrated Environmental Design Report.
Q: What are the Energy Use Intensity targets?
A: 52 kWh/m² maximum for primary and special schools, 60 kWh/m² for secondary schools, and 70 kWh/m² for colleges, excluding energy generated by on-site renewables.
Q: Why is overheating tested against two different future weather scenarios?
A: The Technical Manual requires schools to perform against a 2°C warming scenario as the primary check, and to demonstrate they can be adapted to a more extreme 4°C scenario without needing to alter the building’s structure, so the design is resilient over its expected lifetime.
Q: Do you handle the as-built Part L and EPC as well?
A: Yes, we carry the assessment through from the as-designed model at design stage to the as-built BRUKL report and EPC once construction is complete.
Get Your DfE Technical Package in Place
Talk to Walker Energy Analysis at concept stage, so the energy, overheating and daylight requirements are built into the design from the outset, not retrofitted later.
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