Royal Northern College of Music receives £3.4 million for decarbonisation scheme

The grant is a part of the £78 million that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has distributed to organisations across the region following a successful bid to the PSDS.

It will provide an opportunity for the college to improve the quality and efficiency of its estate and develop a forward strategy around the route to decarbonisation.

The project is expected to be completed by March 2022, and will include implementing air source heat pump technology, a full roof replacement of the main building to improve its thermal efficiency, the installation of a solar PV array to generate electricity, high efficiency chiller technology with heat recovery, a new efficient transformer for the main building and the development of a new energy metering infrastructure.

Students Beth Machell and Hoda Jahanpour, said: ‘We are so excited for the completion of the Decarbonisation Scheme at the RNCM. Two years ago, we founded RNCM Climate Action, a society with the aim of helping students and staff live more sustainably and for our college to become more environmentally friendly.

'One year ago, we organised a UK conservatoire-wide climate strike seeking change in our institutions. It means so much to us that student voices are heard at the RNCM. We look forward to working with college further and hope other conservatoires will follow the lead.’

The RNCM says it is 'fully committed to continuing progress' on environmentalism.