Sustainable future for Hull school

Hull City Council have specified ground source heat pumps from ECO Heat Pumps for the school which will deliver an approximate carbon saving of 730 tonnes per annum.

Schools are leading the way in their use of renewable energy, especially in new builds as the benefits are huge in terms of delivering more affordable, sustainable heating with a much lower carbon footprint.

Maybury Primary School in Hull was reviewed under Hull City Council's Transforming our Primary Schools (TOPs) review, which recommended that the old school should be demolished and a new school built on the same site.

Hull City Council specified ground source heat pumps from ECO Heat Pumps for the school which will deliver an approximate carbon saving of 730 tonnes per annum.

The heat pump featured 12 loops and approximately 250m length of pipework was laid under the school playing fields which means that it will be completely hidden once installed.

Phil Moore, Managing Director of ECO Heat Pumps, explains: "This is a fantastic example of how heat pumps can help local authorities meet their energy efficiency and sustainability requirements".

"The carbon savings are significant and it really does show how renewable technology is providing a more viable sustainable option for our country's schools." ECO Heat Pumps, based in Sheffield, was successful in tendering for the project and partnered with main contractor XXX, to supply and install five ground source heat pumps as part of the new 'eco friendly' school building.

The heat pumps are part of a complete range of environmental measures at the school, which include rainwater harvesting and energy efficient heat recovery systems.

John Elliott, architect for Hull City Council, who was involved with the specification of the heat pumps, said: "Heat pumps helped us meet the requirements of Part L2 for greater energy efficiency in new builds".

"Building the new school gave us the perfect opportunity to incorporate a more sustainable source of energy into the design".

"The heat pumps will also have many practical benefits, such as lower running costs and reduced maintenance over the lifetime of the system".

The school is also using the heat pump system as a way of educating its children about the need to reduce carbon emissions.

At a recent opening ceremony for the school, pupils of all ages gave performances on environmental sustainability, using the school as a great example of this.

A heat pump works by circulating a refrigerant fluid around a circuit containing four elements; evaporator, compressor, condenser and expansion valve.

As heat is absorbed from the ground the liquid refrigerant evaporates to form a gas.

Later in the cycle, this gas is compressed which causes it to change back to a liquid whilst at the same time releasing the heat into the home and the cycle begins again.

Heat Pumps are effective both in summer and winter, day and night because the ground temperature remains constant at only a few feet below the surface.

The Building Schools for the Future programme means that more schools than ever before will be able to benefit from funding for renewable energy.

The benefits are huge in terms of delivering more affordable, sustainable heating with a much lower carbon footprint.

Phil Moore, managing director of Eco Heat Pumps, based at Sheffield Technology Parks, said: "We are really excited to be involved in this project to create one of the first schools in the UK that is run completely on sustainable energy sources".

"Heat pumps are one of the most effective forms of renewable energy as they are four times as efficient as a conventional gas boiler".

"Everyone has a part to play in reducing harm to the environment and should be praised for their foresight in choosing renewable energy and encouraging others to do so too".

It is possible to save up to 75 per cent on running costs compared to conventional systems, which means a heat pump typically pays for itself in five to ten years.

Grants are available for homeowners or public buildings through the low carbon buildings programme.

More advice can be found on the website.

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