Northern Ireland's Education Authority has told schools to cut heating by an hour a day, switch off lights where possible, and have staff and pupils "wear more clothes" if classrooms feel cold, as school energy costs are forecast to rise by about £8 million, or roughly $10.6 million USD, by March 2027.
Here's what to know
Northern Ireland's Education Authority has told head teachers that higher gas and electricity costs are expected to push school energy spending sharply upward during the 2026 - 2027 financial year.
According to BBC News, the EA expects gas costs to climb from £10.7 million ($14.2 million) to £17 million ($22.5 million), a 60% increase, while electricity spending is projected to increase from £23.8 million to £25.1 million by March 2027.
The Education Authority linked the issue to "recent geopolitical events are expected to have a substantial impact on energy costs... during the 2026/27 financial year," and told schools to "review their energy usage and identify opportunities to reduce consumption wherever possible."
Suggested measures included shorter heating schedules and greater use of daylight instead of classroom lighting. Staff and pupils were also told to add layers instead of increasing the thermostat.
More background
School leaders told BBC News that putting those recommendations into practice is more complicated than it sounds, particularly in older buildings that are difficult to run efficiently.
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At Tullygally Primary School in Craigavon, principal Kirsty Logan-Hall said her school operates from "an older building which presents inherent energy efficiency challenges."
She said the school's specialist provision means the site is spread across multiple areas that have to stay heated, lit, and fully usable throughout the day. Because of that, she warned there is "limited scope for reducing energy consumption without adversely impacting the quality of provision, staff working conditions or the wellbeing of pupils, including those with additional needs."
Claire Robinson, principal of Holy Evangelists Primary School in Dunmurry, described energy costs as "ferocious." She said some parts of the school rely on underfloor heating and that classrooms cannot fall below a certain temperature. "We can't just turn the heating off in some areas of the school," she said.
What's being done?
Even so, some schools say they have already been taking those kinds of steps.
Emma Quinn of Rathcoole Primary said the "lack of maintenance" affects schools, and said, "Putting this pressure onto us at the minute is ridiculous, when we are eco schools, we are doing all of these, we are turning off lights, but yet this lands in on our doorstep. We're suddenly expected to jump and to fix a problem that is so systemic, it's just not good enough."
At Ebrington Primary School in Londonderry, principal Brian Guthrie said the roughly 10-year-old building is already "very energy efficient," and that 100 solar panels added in 2025 are expected to recoup their cost within the next five years.
Guthrie said children need to be taught in "an ambient classroom." He added, "I'm not going to be asking children and staff to put coats and hats on during the winter time."
Where can I learn more?
Rising energy costs are forcing schools, households, and utilities to make tough choices in different ways.
• In Washington, D.C., students pushed a Green New Deal to reshape school climate policy.
• Across the U.S., families watched everyday costs soar as electric bills climbed toward $1,000.
• Utilities are adopting new tariffs for data centers as massive power demand reshapes electricity markets.
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