06/11/2015
An independent school has been recognised for its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, after being shortlisted for a prestigious public sector award.
Oakham School in Leicestershire is in the running for the Public Sector Sustainability Award for Best Energy Management Project thanks to an interlinked energy efficient system that delivers ample heating and hot water while achieving a predicted gas energy saving of up to 20 per cent*.
The school supports 1,000 pupils - half of which live in boarding houses on site - and offers facilities including a swimming pool, which together add up to a substantial demand for heating and hot water day and night, much like that of a hotel.
A rolling programme of upgrades overseen by the school's deputy estates bursar Patrick Trower has resulted in the installation of 34 Potterton Commercial Paramount boilers across 10 plant rooms, along with 13 MAXXflo water heaters from Andrews Water Heaters and four SenerTec Dachs mini combined heat and power (CHP) units.
Each of the products was specified as a result of tried and tested performance when it comes to reliability and efficiency. For instance, the Paramount range of wall hung high efficiency condensing boilers features an ultra-reliable aluminium/silicon heat exchanger and ultra-low NOx emissions. Meanwhile the MAXXflo's unique design features four separate burners which all modulate, ensuring a steady and near guaranteed supply of hot water and earning it a Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation.
The Dachs Mini-CHP is Europe's biggest selling mini-CHP system. Using an internal combustion engine that can be fuelled by either natural gas or LPG, it simultaneously produces electricity and heat. On-site CHP is approximately 30 per cent more efficient than relying on traditional heating plant and electricity supplied solely from the grid. Additionally, the end user enjoys a level of energy security from generating power and heat onsite, close to the point of use.
Neville Small, sales director at Potterton Commercial, said: "We're immensely proud to have been able to support Oakham School in developing a system that not only satisfies the level of heat and hot water demand but saves energy and money at the same time.
"By specifying a solution that joins together best in boiler, water heater and CHP technology, Oakham can be confident that its new system will continue to perform well into the future.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed for Oakham and hope to see them walk away with the award when they are announced in November.”
For more information please visit www.pottertoncommercial.co.uk
