Introduction
Dawley Brook Primary School, Kingswinford was a test bed for renewable energy and heating technologies that have yielded financial and energy savings. The school received their first Eco Flag in 2009 that recognised their commitment to instil energy saving behaviours and attitudes with the pupils.
Dawley Brook Primary School achieved Green Flag status on 12/10/09. http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/ecoschools/school?id=4899
What the project involved
Dudley MBC replaced an old inefficient oil boiler with a biomass boiler as part of a boiler replacement programme.
This project involved Dudley MBC conducting a feasibility study, selecting the supplier of the biomass boiler and the identification of a local source of biomass and ensuring the necessary planning consents were in place. Dawley Brook is the first school in Dudley to benefit from this exciting carbon neutral technology.
The installation of the biomass boiler was complemented through the installation of solar thermal panels to provide hot water and an energy monitoring system.
Biomass Boiler
Biomass is a term used to describe fuels that are derived from wood such as wood pellets, chips or logs as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. These fuel sources emit the same amount of carbon dioxide while they are being converted to heat as they absorb while the tree was growing. Biomass is a sustainable form of fuel production when sourced close to where it is used.
A capacity biomass boiler was installed in the summer of 2009 to capture these benefits, provide space heating for the school buildings and reduce their carbon footprint.
Solar Thermal Panels
Solar thermal panels are a reliable technology that harnesses the energy present in the natural sunlight to heat water. Solar thermal panels are mounted on the roof and contain a network of pipes covered with absorbent materials. The water is pumped through the pipes, then through a coil to a hot water tank where it is stored until it is used in the school.
Outcomes
The school won the Community Category of the Dudley Energy Heroes Awards in 2010 which recognised it as one of the leading energy saving project in Dudley Borough. The school use the panels and boiler as an educational tool through lessons and many people associated with the school are aware of the environmental and financial benefits of the technologies.
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