Cornish primary school cuts energy costs with microgeneration
A primarry school in Cornwall is saving 15% of its energy costs thanks to microgeneration equipment including a small wind turbine, solar PV and solar thermal panels.
St Columb Minor School, near Newquay, has already benefitted from solar equipment funded by the Co-operative Group's Green Energy for Schools programme.
This year it has also been using a new 6kW wind turbine, supported through phase two of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, via British Gas.
The turbine was made by Glasgow firm Proven Energy, and installed by Dan Ledger from Capture Energy, an installer for Aeolus Power.
The school's business manager, Gill Harper, said: "Our wind turbine is just one of our visual statements that provides evidence to support our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint. The installation of our turbine was part of our school's Sustainability Action Plan which included the development of energy saving measures and the reduction of carbon emissions."
The Proven 11 wind turbine has the potential to produce 10,000kWh per year, according to its makers, reducing the school's carbon dioxide emissions by 4,300kg per year.
The school invested in a display panel which is positioned in the main entrance to show the electricity generated since the wind turbine was installed, along with the carbon emissions savings.
The wind turbine and display will act as an educational resource in renewable energy for the staff, pupils, parents, visitors and St Columb Minor community.
Richard Caldow, operations manager for Proven Energy, said: "Proven has always believed that by promoting renewable energy in learning facilities we can help model the thinking of the next generation. Through the Phase Two funding programme the government is helping to support this."
As well as saving 15% of energy costs, the microgeneration equipment allows the schools double subsidies under the industry-funded Renewables Obligation scheme from this month (April 2009).
SEARCH THE WEBSITE
