Sustainable heating system installed at Lochaber School

Pupils and staff at a Lochaber Primary school will tomorrow celebrate the installation of a wood chip heating system into their school with Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley.

The conversion of oil fired heating at Inverlochy Primary School to use wood chip as an energy source is part of the Council’s commitment to adapt services to reduce their impact on climate change.

Introducing biomass fuel technology in Council properties is also part of the Council’s programme for 2009 – 2011 which aims to increase the use of renewable micro generation technology sources.

The £120,000 project at Inverlochy Primary School was instigated, developed and managed by the Council’s Housing and Property Service and was funded through the Council’s Property Investment and Energy Efficiency Investment Funds.

Councillor Michael Foxley, Chair of the Council’s Climate Change Working Group said: “Inverlochy Primary School is an excellent example of what we can achieve throughout the Highlands to reduce our impact on climate change. With the support of our staff, pupils and other colleagues within the Council we can develop these ideas and technologies further a field to make a collective impact on reducing our carbon emissions. I would like to thank everyone involved in this project at Inverlochy for all their support.”

Ainsley Burns, Head Teacher at Inverlochy Primary School said: “Both staff and pupils are very pleased that our school is now more environmentally friendly in the way we heat our building. The pupils have been involved in a joint funded ‘Eco Art Project’, led by Felicity Nightingale, to enhance the look of the boiler container and are pleased that we as one small school can make a direct impact on saving the planet.”

Bruno Berardelli, Managing Director, Highland Wood Energy Ltd said: “We are delighted to have carried out the design and installation of the wood chip heating system at Inverlochy Primary School. It has been a great school to work with, and the staff and pupils have been right behind the conversion from oil fired to a more sustainable form of heating. The wood heating system will reduce heating bills at the school by approximately 40% and CO2 emissions by around 80 tonnes per annum, demonstrating that The Highland Council is being proactive towards meeting their carbon reduction targets. The fuel is sourced locally, ensuring a positive benefit to the local economy.”