EARLHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL IN FOREST GATE, LONDON, UK [Prue Chiles Architects, 2009] Two large diagrams on the wall inform students about how water was saved and how energy technologies like photovoltaic panels were used to make the toilets sustainable. The diagrams become three-dimensional with the integration of energy and water meters. Internally the cubicles feature photographs of Epping Forest as well as famous monuments in central London – here Trafalgar Square – which many students in this multi-cultural neighbourhood have never visited.
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ENERGY COLLECTED
NOTE: POWER SOCKET AND METER FEED IN MAIN SCHOOL CORRIDOR
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How our toilets help to save energy 1 SOLAR RADIATION
The sun is approximately 93 million miles away from earth and burns at a temperature of approximately 60000C.
2 COLLECTING
The average daily hours of sunshine in London is 4.1 hours/day.
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DID YOU KNOW?
A standardised 4KWP solar panel system has the potential to save up to 2 tons of Carbon Dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere each year. 2 tons of Carbon Dioxide weighs as much as 1/3rd of a London Bus
3 CONVERTING
An ‘invertor’ converts DC electricity from the solar panel into AC electricity that can be used by the school’s mains electricity distribution board.
4 SENSING
Special sensors detect movement within the toilet area and turn the lighting on and off, helping to save energy.
5 ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING
Low energy light bulbs can last around 12 times longer than an ordinary bulb and use up to 75% less electricity.
6 DRYING
Powerful micro turbines generate a high powered blast of air that dries hands up to 4 times faster and uses 80% less energy than a conventional warm air hand drier. This means drier hands and reduces the spread of germs
7 METERING
The electricity meter collects information on how much solar power is collected and how much is used to power the school’s energy needs. These figures are then used to calculate how much electricity the school has saved.
8 SURPLUS ENERGY
Any extra energy generated by the school’s solar panels can be exported to the national grid and then used to power other places such as your home.
in Forest Gate, London, UK [Prue Chiles Architects, 2009] had sustainability and working with the children as key objectives. Located in a similar gritty, urban and multicultural area as Westminster Academy, Earlham Primary School had some problems of violence and police was often in attendance at the main entrance. The head governor and headteacher were very keen to do something
unique and special for the children and to reorganise the space to make the school feel different with a modest investment. The toilets were old and inconvenient, and took up a lot of space that could be better used. The solution was to open the toilets to the circulation space, make them half the size but with a more rationalised layout. This
CIRCULATION SPACES, CORRIDORS AND SERVICE AREAS 153