09 July 2010 Green school gets top BREEAM rating
The Labour government's green school building programme has recently been scrapped by the coalition, but one school which was built under the scheme has recieved the highest BREEAM rating ever awarded to a school. Rogiet Primary School in Monmouthsire involved pupils and teachers in the design and build of the school to help widen and enhance the learning experience. The building has now also been recognised as a key example of sustainability and best practice, achieving a percentage score of 78.18%.
The single-story timber frame school accomodates 210 pupils and staff, has landscaped grounds and external play and sports areas. The design and construction of high quality sustainable schools was regarded as important because apart from reducing carbon emissions multiple sources of evidence now show that a 'green' school raises standards, enhances well-being and educates young people for a future of sustainable living. Throughout the build, pupils were given the opportunity to learn first hand about the principles of sustainability, including the insulation of the building where pupils were involved from the outset. In line with the stringent sustainability credentials recycled newsprint insulation ( Warmcel) was used throughout. Currently UK landfill statistics show that more than 2 million tonnes of waste newspaper go unused each year. Pupils were actively encouraged to learn more about the life-cycle of paper and the manufacture of the insulation, then visited their new school to watch the final recycled loose-fill material being blown into the new building. By learning how materials such as newspaper can be re-used in such a meaningful way the pupils really took notice. One parent talking about her child commented about how her daughter had changed the family's whole life style, not only at school but also at home. The parent went on to say that her daughter now thinks about everything she does, everything she's using, where it's come from and where it's going to end up. According to BREEAM, recycled newsprint insulation is rated as 'better than Zero Carbon'. The amount of carbon locked into the paper, combined with the amount of carbon saved by preventing the recycled paper from being land filled, is greater than the amount of carbon created during the manufacture, installation and removal of the product when the building is demolished. In total, the whole insulation of Rogiet Primary School used approximately 27,160 newspapers (6.79 tonnes), equating to CO2 savings of 1.67 tonnes, as well as additional CO2 savings over the life time of the product. Neal Stephens, of construction company Willmott Dixon, who built the school in partnership with architect White Design, commented: "The early collaboration of pupils, teachers and the community as a whole was an essential element of the building process and one that went on to reap numerous rewards. The sourcing of environmentally friendly products such as Warmcel Insulation was just one of many innovative ways in which we were able to demonstrate how construction can be sustainable, while creating a learning environment with a low carbon footprint - or in the case of Warmcel, a below zero carbon footprint!" Other key sustainability features used in the school included:
- Single storey plan with high levels of natural daylight in all areas
- Timber frame construction with glulam and exposed timber elements, with responsibility sourced timber
- Natural ventilation using both manually and automatically actuated windows, roof lights and vents to ensure good ventilation rates and thermal comfort
- Landscape design and planting that maximised both educational benefits for the school and biodiversity enhancement of the site
- Rainwater harvesting tanks that recycle rainwater for use in the school
- Wind turbine that contributes to the energy requirements of the school Derek Downer, Head of Property Services, Monmouthshire County Council concludes: "BREEAM set the standards to aim for and encouraged the site team to interact with the school in developing sustainability as an embedded culture, thus encouraging future generations to live sustainably."
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