Case study: Passivhaus Plus Hackbridge Primary School

Hackbridge Primary is the first Passivhaus Plus-certified school, setting a new standard for sustainable design and operational efficiency. Andy Pearson talks to members of the project team about the award-winning scheme

Case study: Comberton Village College heat network

The installation of a new heat network at Comberton Village College is set to significantly reduce the heating bill and save 248 tonnes of CO2. Andy Pearson speaks to Bouygues Energies & Services about how two 500kW ground source heat pumps replaced oil-fired boilers scattered across 16 plantrooms

Designing net zero for pupil wellbeing

Cundall has created new premises for Beormund Primary School that not only meet net zero aspirations, but also cater for the social, emotional and mental health needs of the school’s pupils. Andy Pearson reports

Bundles of energy: the platform approach to decarbonising schools

The Department for Education is exploring how it can apply platform construction principles to create an innovative retrofit solution that can decarbonise schools and colleges, and facilities in other sectors. Andy Pearson reports on the energy pod concept

Key influencers: Saving energy at Parrs Wood High

Students at Parrs Wood High have responded to the climate emergency by making energy savings in their school buildings. Science teacher Chris Baker explains how other schools could replicate the model, which has cut annual carbon emissions by 543 tonnes and energy bills by £106,000

Building resilience into net-zero schools

Schools designed today must withstand future climate change. Tim Taylor, Joe Jack Williams and Paula Morgenstern, from CIBSE School Design Group, look at the likelihood of them overheating

Class control: optimising HVAC controls in schools

Poor HVAC controls can cost schools thousands of pounds in wasted energy. School teacher Chris Baker explains how he engaged with his students at Parrs Wood school to cut energy bills by £9,000 a year after extensive monitoring