1 October 2008
If you’re keen to learn about energy saving, then head down to Inglewood High School for a lesson on how to reduce your power bill. After a year of turning off lights, wrapping hot water cylinders and producing its own power, the school has saved 17% of its energy use, beating its original target of 15%. The School achieved this through a combination of both energy conservation and generation.
Basic energy saving measures included using sensor controlled lights, removing some of the school’s hot water cylinders and wrapping the ones that remained. The school installed electricity metres which allowed students and staff to instantly see how much energy they could save simply by turning off the lights, or shutting down a computer.
More ambitious was the wind turbine and photovoltaic solar panels the school installed to generate their own energy. While not powering the school completely, it’s a great way to see difference that renewable generation can make. The school has also installed solar hot water heating in the administration block.
The reaction from the Inglewood community has been fantastic with a lot of support coming from school parents. Some of these power saving measures have also made their way into local homes.
Teacher and project ‘champion’ Warwick Foy said the little things had made the project.
“The wrapped cylinder made a huge difference, more than a wind turbine can make, it’s a little change but really important’.
The overall goal of this pilot EnviroPower project was to reduce power consumption while raising greater awareness in the school and community of issues of sustainability.
To learn more about Inglewood High School’s energy saving project check out the school’s website.
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