The first purpose built enviromentally friendly ‘Eco School‘ in the UK has just opened its doors. With its part flower, part windmill emblem, believe me this educational facility is doing slightly more than a bit of recycling!
The Howe Dell Primary School in Hatfield, Hertfordshire has been built on the grounds of a former airfield, with recycled glass panels leading up to the entrance like a runway. Once inside the building, the reception desk is made entirely from recycled mobile phones, whilst the flooring for both the dining room and main hall are created from sustainably-sourced bamboo and timber. All the carpeted areas within the classrooms consist of recycled tiles, which in the event of damage can be repaired per square, instead of removing the whole carpet. Recycled materials are the theme throughout the school, with yoghurt pots being used for sink tops and drainpipes doubling as the library counter, and even desks!
Lighting for the school is provided by solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, and skylights, which allow natural light to take the place of electric bulbs. Plus, plans are already under way to build a wind turbine to take the place of all the electricity that is currently used.
The school is warmed by a number of different, environmentally friendly methods. Firstly, the radiators are heated by a brand new system called the Interseasonal Heat Transfer. This involves a network of pipes under the playground absorbing heat from the sun, which is then stored in thermal banks beneath the concrete play area. This heat is saved until the winter months, then released into the building’s radiators. Along with this revolutionary system are solar panels that are used to pre-heat the water used in the kitchens and bathrooms. Even the flushing toilets are maintained with recycled rainwater.
The planning and construction of an environmentally friendly school such as Howe Dell does not come cheaply, with the price running to over £10million. But what price can be put on the environmental awareness this kind of project creates not only for its pupils, but also for the surrounding community?
