Case Studies

Astley Cooper School, Hemel Hempstead

As well as an energy saving tool, Optimal forms part of the energy awareness curriculum component.

Since deployment, this school has used our system extensively. We have installed additional sub-meters and monitoring points in order to enable the school to pinpoint the origin of consumption anomalies. We have also helped the Officer in Charge (OIC) to identify areas where consumption could be improved.

In addition, due to concern over fluctuations in temperatures in certain buildings, we have provided mobile wireless based temperature probes. These have enabled the OIC to identify and collect data on fluctuations in temperatures throughout the different buildings. This data has assisted the school to identify maintenance issues regarding boiler performance etc. In this school, and at many others, our system has also helped identify a lack of understanding in the use and setting of boiler optimisers. Historically, these deficiencies have resulted in excessive and unnecessary gas consumption; obviously, this is no longer a problem.

Astley Cooper School also has a wind turbine. Although independently remotely monitored, the OIC was unhappy as to the reliability of the reporting system, and therefore requested we incorporate the monitoring of this equipment into our remote utility monitoring system. We did this, enabling the OIC to view wind turbine data alongside all other utility consumption data via our system’s web portal. We also linked the data to the school’s website, thus enabling public access to this information.

This school is also extremely proactive in using information within lessons, and providing student access. Indeed the OIC has suggested a number of enhancements to the system, which will enable further benefits to accrue to the students.

Examples of enhancements we have provided, or are developing for the school, include:

• Enable a fixed data hover facility over graphs in order to view snapshot tabular data at any point in time without needing to print a report.
• Data is collected in real time, but plotted on a half hourly basis on the web portal, and in printed reports. The school wishes to be able to “zoom” in on any point in time during the day and view data consumption on a five-minute basis. They have requested this feature because whilst using the system in lessons, the students wish to be able to go away and switch off a number of computers, for example, and immediately view, download and calculate the effects of their actions on the school’s consumption within minutes of taking the action.
• Plot smooth graphs feature
• Enhance reporting to be able to report data by parts of days on a daily, weekly, monthly, annual basis etc. For example, this will enable the school to produce a report for utility consumption for the month of January between 5.00 pm and 9.00 am. Although downloading all data and manipulating the relevant ranges could achieve this, the school wishes to have this at the click of a button in order to maximise the benefits during lessons that only last for a relatively short period of time.

Optimal is undertaking all the above consultancy and development work at cost. This is because we recognise the school is driving forward the development and enhancement of the system in order to make a real difference in the teaching of environmental matters within the school curriculum. All these features will be of benefit to other schools using the system in the long term.

This school has already saved a significant amount of money on its consumption, but is one of the first to start extensively using the system within the curriculum.