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Kingsmead
Primary School Project Why?
Read more about the Kingsmead School Project Kingsmead School was part of the inspiration for the County Council Award Winning Design for the 2005 RHS Tatton Show. |
Wistaston Green Primary School Wistaston Green Primary School is being implemented by the same partnering as Kingsmead with Willmott Dixon as the main contracting partner. |
An Age Old Power
Have you heard of global warming?
Research last year showed that just over 3% of 8-11 year olds have heard of global warming.
Do you know the possible cause of global warming? What causes global warming?.
Try the quiz if you think you know about ECO issues.
Click here for some global warming games.
The
greenhouse effect is a natural process, which traps some of the sun
heat and helps keep the planet warm-just like the glass of a greenhouse.Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be too cold for us to survive. So in some ways it is a perfectly normal and safe thing.
The effect is due to the presence of gases in the atmosphere which allow sunlight through, but prevent heat from escaping. The heat stays in and warms the earth.
A balance of gases in the atmosphere maintains the effect. These gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide and methane.
Until the industrial revolution, the proportions of gases in the atmosphere are believed to have remained quite steady for thousands of years. The generation of greenhouse gases (mostly CO2 and methane) from natural sources was balanced by their natural removal or destruction.
In the last century we have upset the balance. We are omitting more of these gases and adding some new ones, such as Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), which act powerfully to retain heat.
Concentrations
of greenhouse gases have increased in the past century. Some scientists
are worried that if the present trend continues, the world could undergo
a temperature increase of between 1.5 and 4.5 degree Centigrade by the
end of the next century. Such an increase could cause the water in the
oceans to expand, or even melt some of the polar ice caps and cause
sea levels to rise.
What has this got to do with energy?
It is estimated that about 60% of man made greenhouse gases are produced directly by energy use. When fuels such as oil, coal and gas are burned to produce energy, the produce large quantities of greenhouse gases.
All of the information in this website is about renewable energy, sometimes called "green energy" and sometimes called "low carbon fuel". This form of energy produces low, or no greenhouse gases. This form of energy includes power from the sun-solar energy, moving air-wind energy, moving water-hydro energy and power from natural materials such as wood-these are called biofuels.
We
have included a number of useful web links for pupils and teachers interested
in studying renewables.
A number of Cheshire schools use renewable energy to power their school. London Electricity supplies renewable energy from wind and waterpower through the national grid to our schools. Those schools have on display a certificate to show that renewable energy is used. So far no Cheshire schools have renewable energy generated on their site, although we hope this will happen soon.
A number of schools outside Cheshire have installed renewable energy to power their schools directly. Cassop Primary School, in County Durham is the first school in England to install a wind turbine.
Another school in the midlands has classroom heated by wood fuel. A school on the Isle of Wight has its heating system fuelled by crushed waste materials.
Nine
schools in Denmark have their electricity powered by solar panels.
A number of Cheshire schools attended a renewable energy workshop last
year. The workshop was organised by Manweb Scottish Power and took place
at the Chester Racecourse. Middlewich Primary, Malpas Alport, Hoole
All Saints and Belgrave Infants School represented Cheshire at the event.
A fun day was had by all, with workshops on wind turbines, candles and
lamps, air rockets and solar cars. There was a Green Energy Quiz and
an exhibition of the work on energy in the four Cheshire Schools.
What renewable energy projects could we complete in our school?
How
can we find out more about renewable energy?
Try the following websites:
For Pupils
For
Teachers
The Centre for Alternative Technology provide a wide range of resources,
publications and kits on renewable energy. To order a catalogue phone
01654 703409, or email education@cat.org.uk
or look to their website www.cat.org.uk
The
three pupils guide (solar, wind and water power) are available directly
from CAT
Please click on an image above to view the leaflet cover full size
To find links to all information on Renewable Energy
Cheshire Renewable Energy Initiative .:. Links .:. CREI Partner Organisations .:. Biomass .:. Solar .:. Wind .:. Small Scale Hydro .:. Anaerobic Digestion .:. Business Opportunities .:. Geothermal .:. Buying Green Energy .:. Where to See Renewables .:. Alternative Transport Fuels