FERMANAGH SCHOOLS MAKE THE SWITCH TO SMART ENERGY!
16 Mar 2010
Four Fermanagh schools will be reducing their carbon footprint in the future by switching from oil heating to wood pellet boilers. The scheme, which was developed by the Western Education and Library Board and funded by Department of Education & CCMS, New Opportunities Fund, Energy Saving Trust and the Northern Ireland Electricity SMART Programme, will bring both environmental and financial benefits to the four schools.
St Aidan’s High School in Derrylin, St Eugene’s High School in Rosslea, St Comhghall’s High School and St Ronan’s Primary School in Lisnaskea have installed biomass boilers to replace their older, less efficient fossil fuelled heating systems. The new systems will supply both heating and hot water supplies to all four schools through a heat supply contract.
NIE Energy’s Gwyneth Compston says schools in Northern Ireland have been early adopters of all types of renewable energy and is pleased to support the project. “In recent years, the NIE SMART programme has supported the installation of all types of renewable technologies in schools across County Fermanagh. This is the first project of its kind in Fermanagh using wood pellet boilers and we are hoping that it will open a door to help local schools make a difference to the environment, while also helping to raise awareness of renewable energy with pupils, teachers and local communities. NIE is keen to continue supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes with schools and hopes more schools will adopt alternative energy sources in the future.”
The installations were carried out by Maurice Stevenson Ltd and it is hoped that this scheme, the first of its kind in the area, will encourage more schools and businesses to incorporate alternative energy sources into their energy mix.
St Aidan’s High School has also installed low energy lighting throughout the school and Principal Martin McBrien says saving both CO2 and energy has benefits for the school and the local community. "St. Aidans is delighted to be at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution and to be pioneering the philosophy for the benefit of our pupils who will be able to see at first hand the potential of what will undoubtedly be a major feature of their future society, especially as this is an area of the country where there is already extensive development of wind power energy".
John Coney, WELB Energy & Environment Officer, says: “WELB is pleased to be implementing a project that demonstrates the Board’s ongoing commitment to the environment and assists in meeting the Government targets of reducing fossil fuel use and using renewable energy technologies. This project, which uses a locally sourced wood fuel supply to deliver a sustainable heat energy supply to the four schools, is a practical demonstration of how local solutions can be found to address global problems such as climate change and depletion of fossil fuel resources.”
The NIE SMART programme is funded by Northern Ireland Electricity, the network operator, and managed by electricity supplier NIE Energy. To find out more about energy saving and renewable energy solutions for your home, business or community go to www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk .
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