The Priory Federation of Academies Trust has embarked on an impressive decarbonization program to save an estimated total of 227.5 tons of CO2 annually from three of its Lincoln academies with the support of Oakes Energy Services and nine Remeha Air Source Heat Pumps.
Pioneering renewable energy installer Oakes Energy Services has collaborated with heating and hot water solutions expert Baxi to assist the Priory Federation of Academies Trust with its ambitious sustainability initiative to decarbonize the sports centers at a series of Lincoln academies.
Design of the entire scheme
Sports facilities, specifically those with swimming pools, have increased energy ultimatum
Sports facilities, particularly those with swimming pools, have high energy demand. The decarbonization program currently encompasses three of the Trust’s academies: Lincoln Academy, Witham Academy, and LSST Academy, where gas boilers were previously heating the water in the pool and air handling units.
Keen to cut its carbon footprint, the Trust approached Oakes Energy Services to help develop proposals to decarbonize the sports centers at the three schools.
The designs, which illustrate the expected carbon savings, were then used to secure funding from the Public Sector Decarbonization Scheme operated by Salix. In total, the design of the entire scheme is expected to save 227.5 tons of CO2 a year, equivalent to planting 7,000 trees.
Remeha ASHPs supply
The proposal for each academy was designed bespoke to the individual requirements in each building, but all involved retrofitting Remeha air source heat pumps (ASHPs). Remeha is part of Baxi. At Witham and LSST Academies, two Remeha ASHPs now supply all the heat demand in the building, feeding underfloor heating and radiators, and providing hot water for the changing rooms and the swimming pool plant.
At Lincoln Academy, which has a larger 25-meter swimming pool, five Remeha ASHPs supply heat to calorifiers for the hot water system as well as to the swimming pool heat exchanger in what is the first phase of the decarbonization program.
Oakes Energy Services team
Director Nik Smith at Oakes Energy Services said: “We are very familiar with the Remeha brand – the products are fantastic, the design support and service from the Baxi sales and specification team is great, and the technical backup they offer is simply unrivaled.”
A further advantage for the Oakes Energy Services team was the ready availability of the air source heat pumps.
Great service from Baxi
As with all school projects, we were working to a tight, fixed deadline"
Nik Smith explained: “As with all school projects, we were working to a tight, fixed deadline. Having the Remeha heat pumps in stock was a big selling point, as we had more time to complete the project ahead of the start of the new term."
He added: “In addition to on-site technical support during the installation stage, Baxi also provided pre-commissioning support and commissioning to meet the handover date. All in all, a great service from the Baxi team.”
New build and retrofit projects
Rob Erwood, Commercial Sales and Specification Director at Baxi said: “The focus on low carbon design is now critical for all public sector buildings in line with ambitious government decarbonization targets. We are proud to play a part in this project, collaborating with Oakes Energy Services to help the Trust achieve its carbon reduction ambitions with our Remeha air source heat pumps.”
Remeha ASHPs are available in multiple outputs for single or cascade options, providing flexible solutions for all commercial applications. Specially designed for Northern European climate conditions, the Remeha ASHP range achieves a high supply temperature of up to 65°C flow temperature, making them suitable for use on new build and retrofit projects.
