SECONDARY school pupils in Ruthin are learning in a lower carbon environment after returning from the Easter holidays.
Denbighshire County Council’s energy team has completed a project to reduce energy usage and also lower long term energy costs at Ysgol Brynhyfryd.
The team has managed several projects across council buildings, including school premises to improve building energy efficiency and also support the reduction of carbon emissions and usage costs in the longer-term.
This work is part of the council’s drive to address the climate and nature emergency declared in 2019 and reduce its own carbon footprint.
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Work started in January on the project, which was 90 per cent funded by Welsh Government through its low carbon heat grant, and supported by the Welsh Government Energy Service.
The school has received two new 50kW air source heat pumps which are housed in a new compound on the grounds.
These have replaced the end of life gas boilers and consequently their direct emissions from burning the gas.
This technology turns one unit of energy into three units of low carbon heat by using ambient environmental temperature and can utilise some of the output from solar panels to do this, further reducing cost and emissions.
To help improve the efficiency impact with the heat pumps, the council also funded an additional two solar PV arrays, giving the school a total of three arrays generating a total of close to 100kW.
In addition to support lower energy use and the reduction of long-term costs, LED lighting has been installed which can reduce lighting electricity consumption by at least 50 per cent.
Estimated cost savings due to the work is £19,098 each year, alongside carbon savings of 28.166 tonnes annually.
Robert Jones, principal energy manager, said: “We are grateful to the school for supporting this project and the work needed and also Welsh Government for providing funding for the addition of the heat pumps.
“This has been an extensive project to improve the energy efficiency of the school environment and reducing their emissions and we are grateful for everyone who helped us complete this work.”
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