Green ventilation
October 1st 2005 While schools are receiving such a large financial injection from the Government to upgrade and refurbish there is a major opportunity for them to make the maximum opportunity of 'green' and sustainable building techniques.
Charles Clarke, when he was Secretary of State for Education, said that by 2007-08 capital investment in Schools will have increased by £750 million to £6.3 billion. But not surprisingly, this money does come with ‘green' strings attached because the Government is committed to implementing the climate change programme and using ‘natural' solutions wherever possible.
"Natural ventilation is a very costeffective, energy saving and environmentally friendly approach and a welcome alternative to mechanically driven air conditioning systems for schools," explained Monodraught managing director and founder, Professor Terry Payne.
The 'Windcatcher' is a technology developed by Monodraught to provide natural ventilation without any moving parts. Using compartmentalised vertical vents, fresh air is brought into the room and stale warm air expelled using the natural effects of the wind. There is nothing to break, wear out or maintain, making the Windcatcher the essence of sustainable technology, and these systems carry a 25-year guarantee.
The system works through normal atmospheric properties where warm air rises and decreases the air pressure so that cooler air falls into the room.
This is a subtle change in air pressure, producing only enough airflow to make the room comfortably fresh.
Stale and stagnant air is extracted by the wind blowing onto the windward side of the Windcatcher, with the stuffy air going out through the leeward side of the ventilation stack.
More than 700 schools have now been fitted with Monodraught Windcatcher systems to provide this energy free, air conditioning arrangement.
Monodraught's success in helping to meet the Government's environmental demands is typified in a new mathematics block at Corfe Hills School in Broadstone, Dorset.
The first step was to measure the fresh air requirements for the classrooms and the predicted heat gains, taking into account solar gain and some cross ventilation from perimeter windows. From that came a recommendation to install 9N° GRP 800 sqr Windcatcher ventilation systems in the classrooms and staff room, each terminating approximately 1m above ridgeline.
The school's Assistant Bursar, Nick Hunt, explained: “The system means that room temperature in the maths block is controlled extremely well.
There are other parts of the school with a flat roof where the solar gain is quite onerous, particularly summer. We simply don't get those temperature issues in the rooms ventilated by Windcatchers.
"The whole concept fits in with the school's focus on green issues.
As we see it natural ventilation is as important as healthy eating.
"There's also the fact that running costs are so low, almost non-existent, the system pays for itself over the years. And there are so many issues over air conditioning, such as the danger of Legionnaires Disease.
"I do expect Government regulations on natural ventilation to become a bigger issue and that's something we will take into account when future work takes place."
The initial capital costs for installing such a system are often less than the cost of air conditioning. There are no ongoing running or energy costs.
Prime Minister, Tony Blair, when announcing his Building Schools for the Future programme confirmed that £2.2 billion is available for capital investment in Schools in 2005 and 2006 saying "over time this investment will see the entire secondary school building stock upgraded and refurbished in the greatest school renewal programme in British history."
As maths pupils in Dorset have already discovered, sums like that should provide plenty of future opportunities for natural ventilation. More articles from Monodraught Limited: | 
