Schools Going Green

Schools Going Green!

Does your school have an environmental issues policy? What does it say?

What is currently being done?

What else needs to be done to ensure that all aspects of the policy are met? What part do you play?

The school’s Bursar is concerned about the rising cost of electricity and the size of the bills that have to be paid. Your teacher has the cost of the bills and the amount (number of units) of electricity the school has used over the last few years.

Calculate the 3-month moving averages for the cost of the electricity bills to see if the Bursar is correct: that the amount of money has gone up recently. Is the Bursar correct?

Calculate the 3-month moving averages for the number of units used to see how the amount of electricity has changed, if at all. What do you notice? Why do you think this is?

The Bursar wants you to investigate a wind turbine. You will need to present your findings to the Bursar and Headteacher to make a convincing argument to either have or not to have a turbine. The key information they are looking for: how much it costs to install a wind turbine (can the school get a grant to help towards the cost?), the amount of electricity it will generate and thus the amount of money it will save the school, how long it will take the wind turbine to pay for itself and projected savings in the future. You will also need to take into account local residents and any objections they may make to the turbine. The Headteacher would also like to know how the pupils and staff of the school feel about having a wind turbine onsite.

The Bursar would also like you to suggest the best possible site for the turbine on the school’s grounds.

Some useful information and websites

A suitable wind turbine for a secondary school is about a 6kW turbine.

http://energistar.com/?gclid=CMr7qtbZ-JMCFQuH1QodJ0QrWw will give you a price. (Remember schools do not have to pay VAT)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Renewableandlowcarbonenergy/DG_072626 Government website

http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/windspeed-database/page27708.html will help you work out wind speeds for your school

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Renewableandlowcarbonenergy/DG_072668 will give you an indication of grants available from the government

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?GridConvert will enable you to convert your school’s postcode to an LR grid reference to enter it into http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/windspeed-database/page27326.html to find your school’s average wind speeds to see if a turbine is a viable option

http://www.bwea.com/small/index.html