Renewable energy installation creates funds for teachers and the classroom

Monday, 14 June 2010

Schools and colleges nationwide are allocating valuable funds needed to pay for teachers and facilities for the classroom from savings made by installing renewable energy. Renewable energy installer, Ecovision based in Gloucestershire has now designed and installed in schools and colleges nationwide with many more in the pipeline. Renewable energy installations dramatically cut energy bills and the recently introduced Renewable Heat Incentive makes it the obvious choice.

The most complex installation undertaken is for the £20 m building development at Wyke College, the Hull based sixth form college. The plans for the state of the art new building, gave Ecovision the opportunity to integrate the complex heating system with the initial design. The installation is a pioneering heat pump system. The source of the heat is harnessed from 50 boreholes, each 112m deep sunk into the college’s rugby pitch and uses more than 1 km of ground pipe.

The system is designed to provide a constant temperature throughout the year. Approximately 75% of the energy required comes from the boreholes with the remaining contributed by the heat pumps. The entire heating and cooling system is under the control of a sophisticated control system that constantly monitors and ensures optimum use of energy.

Ecovision’s Technical Manager Mark Witzenberger, who designed the system commented: “It is a superb installation and a great example of what can be achieved. The savings will be substantial and with the energy costs rising, the investment will pay for itself many times over. It is only now that the full potential of heat pumps is being recognised.”

Haileybury College in Hertfordshire dates back to 1806 and was designed in a neo-classical style. Plans for a contrasting new language block enabled Ecovision to design a low maintenance, high performance and reliable renewable energy solution with the lowest possible expenditure on heating. The Governors initially considered Biomass but decided heat pumps would be preferable as wood chip systems require significant maintenance and the running cost more than double that of heat pumps. A passive cooling system was also installed to allow the new building to be cooled during the summer months. The heat source for the 37kW heat pump which the building required was through six 140m deep bore holes. Ecovision helped the school obtain the 50% grant funding via the Low Carbon Programme.

The Royal Agricultural College, Mapel Walk Primary School, Epworth Primary School and Harrow School are just some of the other schools and colleges which have reduced running costs, cut carbon emissions, provided a comfortable environment for students and created more funds to be directed to teachers and the classroom.