Many parents will be breathing a sigh of relief at the thought that the summer holidays will be over in a couple of weeks, which also means schools need to start preparing for the new term.

The long six-week break marks the ideal time for schools to make any changes to the building, whether that means getting a thorough clean or having an extension built on.

It could also be a good opportunity to replace all the light bulbs in the classrooms, not only as this will ensure the fixtures are working properly once the term gets underway, but also as this could be a good way to save the school money in the long-run.

By removing traditional lights and fitting energy-saving halogen light bulbs in their place, schools can make a relatively inexpensive change that could have a big impact on their finances in the future.

According to Energy Saving Advice, even a household can save £9 a year on their electricity bill by switching to more environmentally friendly bulbs. As schools are much bigger than standard houses, this saving can be multiplied.

The organisation states: “Energy-efficient light bulbs are basically fluorescent tubes designed to fit an ordinary light fitting. They use around a quarter to a fifth of the electricity used by an ordinary light bulb to generate the same light. Where you’d normally use a 60W standard light bulb, you’ll only need a 13-18W energy-efficient equivalent.”

Therefore, schools trying to keep a tight reign on their finances could be tempted to replace their light bulbs sooner rather than later. Not only will it save them money, but it will also help them do their bit for the environment – something many educational establishments are trying to teach their own students to do too.

In addition to switching their light bulbs, they could also encourage pupils to turn off lights when not in use and learn new ways to reduce their energy consumption.