For Cool Kids
Instead of installing an air-conditioner with high capital and ongoing energy costs in your classroom, utilise passive cooling techniques such as blinds on north facing windows, fans, cross ventilation and night purging. Reducing heat gain into the building is much more energy efficient and economical
GreenHouse CountDown
In 2004 four schools in Moreland competed in the Greenhouse Countdown, a pilot program and joint initiative of Moreland Energy Foundation, North Coburg Football Club and Pacific Hydro. Set up as a competition with $1,500 worth of prizes, Greenhouse Countdown supported the participating schools to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Prizes were awarded to the school that reduce their energy-use the most, and to the school who went about their energy reduction in the most creative way.
The four schools who took part were Pascoe Vale North PS, Fawkner PS, St Oliver Plunkett's and St Mark's PS. Pascoe Vale North PS won the competition with a remarkable reduction in energy use.
Case Study: Cooling down a hot school
Roger Pell is the principal of 136 students at Fawkner Primary School, one of the four schools that competed in the competition and the school that won the $750 prize for the most creative solutions to energy reduction.
As part of the Greenhouse Countdown program, MEFL visited Fawkner Primary School and completed an energy audit to discover how and where energy savings could be made. The building is typical of its age and 1960's era and offers many challenges, with a very small maintenance budget and many competing priorities.
"Keeping the school cool and comfortable on hot days is our biggest problem," concluded Mr. Pell. "We have high absent rates on days over 30 degrees because the north facing classrooms become unbearable by the afternoon."
Despite the funding challenges, Fawkner Primary School is making some significant changes at the school to reduce energy use. They are investing in some passive cooling strategies that include adding pergolas to the north, adjusting cross-ventilation vents and insulating the ducts of their evaporative cooling systems to make them run more efficiently.
Changes in behaviour are also filtering through the school with a new awareness about the importance of saving energy. Both staff and students are making sure lights and computers are turned off when not needed.
Mr. Pell explained: "We got involved in this program because we were keen to help the kids learn about the environment. We put a lot of energy into motivating and engaging the students, and outside programs are a good way of introducing new ideas to both the students and the staff. Learning about the environment is teaching our kids life skills that they will need in the future, and that's what we're all about."
Photo inset: Roger Pell, Principal of Fawkner Primary school, talking to students about being cool in summer.
