Students at Kentucky Public School will be snug as a bug this winter, with the installation of new double glazed windows.
With funding from the State Governments Solar Schools Grant, Kentucky P&C Association put their heads together to find an energy saving initiative that would better benefit the school. The school’s power bill had doubled over the last year, largely thanks to the new classroom and its poor insulation. The decision was made to install double glazed windows across the school, replacing the draughty old timber windows in the old buildings and the aluminum windows of the new classroom.
President of the Kentucky School P&C Association Michael Taylor is confident that the new double glazed windows will significantly reduce the school’s power bill and keep the classrooms warm in winter and cool in summer, reducing the need for heating and cooling appliances throughout the school year.
“I was given the lead on this with my background in Civil Engineering, so I know a little about insulation and energy-saving design,” Michael said.
“Friends recently put these windows in and Ecovue came back with the most competitive quote, unfortunately all our local suppliers were nearly double when we got quotes two years ago.
“The school buildings here are nearly 100 years old and have been pretty chilly in the winter.
“In summer as well, the classrooms get pretty warm and this should help us reduce the need for air conditioning.
There has been a positive response in the community to the new windows, with some skeptical that the uPVC (Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride) double glazed windows would not be in keeping with the character of the old buildings.
“Everyone who has come and seen the windows is really impressed with how they look,” said Michael.
“Ecovue are a small company based in Sydney and have provided us with excellent service.
“We had a funding shortfall of about $20,000 for the labour and installation cost, with Ecovue paying for that shortfall, sending up three installers for five days.
“They are really committed to the insulation cause.”
Michael and the Kentucky P&C are really proud of what they have achieved and Michael is pretty confident that Kentucky Public School would be one of the first schools in NSW to have double glazed windows entirely.
“The heat loss through non-double glazed windows is by far the biggest lack of insulated area, most ceilings are pretty well insulated these days but it is the loss, especially through aluminum framed windows, that is the biggest.”
Story: Jo Harrison
