Brookfield Special School leads the way for Renewable Energy!
21 May 2010
Renewable energy is the way forward for a Lisburn school committed to reducing its carbon footprint. The recently opened Brookfield Special School has installed a number of renewable energy technologies with help from the Northern Ireland Electricity SMART programme!
Brookfield Special School has installed not only 3kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof of the school building but also a 6kW wind turbine at the front of the school. These two technologies together will generate over 10,000 units of clean environmentally friendly electricity every year, a significant saving on the school’s energy bills.
The solar panels were installed as part of the Switched on Schools programme which was funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) through the Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity (PBSP), Northern Ireland Electricity SMART programme and the South Eastern Education and Library Board. The wind turbine was installed with support from the Low Carbon Buildings Phase 2 as well as the Northern Ireland Electricity SMART programme and the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB).
On a visit to the school this week Billy Mills the Energy Officer for the SEELB said that, “The Board is committed to reducing CO2 emissions and with the valuable support from NIE and other funding bodies we have been able to introduce renewable energy technologies where possible in schools and colleges throughout the area. The Board is doing something positive for the environment by substituting the burning of fossil fuels with solar and wind power to provide electricity and Bio Mass boilers to generate heat.
“Brookfield Special School is a new building and one of the major aims in the design process was to make it as environmentally friendly as possible by embracing renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind and Bio Mass heating to minimise the school’s carbon footprint. A “Grey water collection system” has also been installed underground to collect rain water from the roof which can be used to water the gardens and flush toilets, thus reducing the school’s use of mains water.”
Sarah Beldon, from NIE Energy, recently visited the school and was delighted to see the interest that the pupils had taken in the solar panels and wind turbine. She said, “Northern Ireland has great potential for solar and wind power and it is fantastic to see our schools leading the way in creating a sustainable future. These renewable energy technologies will not only cut the carbon dioxide emitted into the local environment and reduce the school’s energy costs, but they are also providing the teachers with valuable educational resources, for example the data from the display units are helping the school children to understand how much energy they are saving.”
To find out more about saving energy and renewable energy solutions for your home, school or business check out the NIE Energy website www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk . The NIE SMART Programme is funded by Northern Ireland Electricity and managed by NIE Energy.
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