Here are the details of some of the 2010 award winners to inspire you with your nomination.
Dawley Brook Primary School, Kingswinford
The school’s management team reduced their energy bills and carbon footprint by installing renewable energy technologies. The school replaced it’s old inefficient boiler with a new biomass boiler, which converts the by-products of a local sawmill into heat.
This is the first biomass boiler to be installed in a Dudley school and is 100% carbon neutral. Alongside this initiative, solar panels were installed on the roof to heat water for use in the building. The installations took place in September 2009 and since then the school has saved over £300 on their energy bills.
The school’s eco committee spent their Energy Heroes prize money on a new picnic table for the school grounds.
Dudley Environment Zone and Roberts Primary School, Lower Gornal
Dudley Environment Zone and Roberts Primary School installed 14 solar photovoltaic panels to generate electricity for use in the school buildings. The solar panels were funded by the Community Sustainable Energy Programme and Low Carbon Building Programme.
Between September 2009 and January 2011, the solar photovoltaic panels generated 3,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. This complemented the wind turbine already at the school which generated a further 2,000kWh of electricity over the same period. This amounts to a total carbon dioxide saving of 2,800kgs, enough to fill 710 telephone boxes.
The school used their Energy Hero prize money to buy a solar water pump in the sensory garden.
St Mary’s RC Primary School, Brierley Hill
The pupils of St Mary’s RC Primary School formed an Eco Warriors Club and raised the profile of environmental issues throughout the school.
Gas use has decreased by turning the heating down and appointing pupils to make sure that doors and windows are kept closed while the heating is on. Electricity has been saved by automatically powering down all computer equipment at the end of the day and appointing pupils to make sure lights are turned off at home time.
The school have spent their Energy Heroes prize money on a solar powered fountain for the school pond.
Wordsley Eco Home (private residence)
This private residence in Wordsley has been designed and built by the owner to have a low environmental footprint. Draughts are kept to a minimum which keeps heating requirements low. The house has been built using wood that has been grown and processed on site; reducing carbon dioxide emissions from transporting materials to the site. The building contains many features which reduce its impact on climate change including energy efficient lighting. A whole house ventilation system captures waste heat from the bathroom and kitchen and recycles it around the house.
Solar photovoltaic panels located on the roof generate 2300Kw of electricity for use in the house, enough to fill 250 telephone boxes.
The Energy Heroes prize money made a contribution towards the cost of the solar panels.
Beacon Centre for the Blind, Sedgley
The management team at Beacon Centre for the Blind and Bromford Housing Association have developed a new energy efficient building at the Beacon Centre and residential centre at Beacon Court.
Energy use at the centre is kept to a minimum through the use of many innovative features such as solar thermal panels that heat water for use in the centre, the use of energy efficient lights, under floor heating, zoned lights, thermostats and A rated appliances. Water use is also kept to a minimum through the use of low flow taps and dual flush toilet cisterns.
The Energy Heroes prize money was used to help residents grow their own fresh produce. This has saved trips to local shops and greengrocers and further reducing the centre’s impact on climate change
