The Ripley Academy and Sixth Form: PSDS funding for Installation of Decarbonised Heating System
Slashing CO2 and Energy Costs through The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Fund
“When we needed to replace our inefficient, expensive and fossil-fuel guzzling coal fired boiler –dating from 1976! –S2e knew what to do. They installed super-efficient air-source heat pumps to set us on our path towards carbon zero”
Timeline
November 2020: Discussions begin
March 2021: S2e helps Ripley secure 100% of the £689,000 funding needed, through The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Fund
November/December 2021: New decarbonised heating system installed
The issue - reducing carbon emmissions
The Ripley Academy and Sixth Form, is part of the East Midlands Education Trust, located in Ripley, Derbyshire. Reliant upon an old coal fired boiler system, we approached S2e to help us in our efforts to make the school greener and reduce our carbon emissions. S2e suggested we apply for Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding, grants for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures.
The application was a success with £689,029 awarded in Phase 1 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to deliver improvements. The funding would enable the replacement of the old coal fired boilers with air source heat pumps and the ageing uninsulated roof replaced with a modern high performance insulated roof to reduce heat demand
The Solution – A holistic approach
S2e took a holistic approach. They replaced our old boiler with:
Two air-source heat pumps
Two natural gas boilers
as well as restoring our roof with improved insulation
They found the perfect place to locate the bulky pumps, calculated the right ratios to get plenty of hot water flowing through our existing radiators, and maximised the pumps’ efficiency. The results are remarkable: whereas our old boiler was operating at 60% efficiency, the air-source heat pumps work at 300% efficiency. At a time when energy bills are spiking, this was a really forward-thinking step to help Ripley Academy and Sixth Form move to a cost-effective renewable heating source and closer to our goal of a more climate-friendly school.
The Outcome
We are meeting the green agenda that is so important to our students, their families and our staff. By decarbonising our heating system and installing roof insulation to reduce energy use we have taken important steps towards our carbon zero target
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