• Local students learn benefits of being green

Local students learn benefits of being green

"I never knew there were so many different types of jobs working with solar panels. It has really inspired me."

Joshua Bennett

david-rowan-joseph-green-14-joshua-bennett-14-phil-brailsford

Students from Maplewell Hall School in Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire, have been given a hands-on lesson in green technology thanks to emh homes.

As part of a wider roll-out of renewable energy solutions, the social landlord installed 120 solar PV panels on the roof of the Community Centre on its Agar Nook estate in Coalville, Leicestershire, in January 2015. The 30kW system is expected to save the Centre over £3,000 a year, money which can now be put to greater use creating and running courses and events for local schools and the wider community.

The students, aged 11 to 14 and all of whom have learning difficulties, were invited to a demonstration of the solar panels and the technology used to track their usage by emh Green Team Manager, Phil Brailsford, and Managing Director of Qore Energy, who installed the panels, David Rowan.

Through SolarEdge remote monitoring, the children were able to see the amount of electricity being generated each day. Afterwards, they were given access to the monitoring site so that they could continue to monitor the panels as part of a Science project. The students also learned of the many career opportunities available in the renewable energy industries, from specialist engineers and surveyors to roofers and salesmen.

One student who was particularly impressed with the demonstration was Joshua Bennett, who said: “I was so excited when I found out about the trip. I am really interested in technology, so to see this up close was brilliant. I never knew there were so many different types of jobs working with solar panels. It has really inspired me.”

Phil Brailsford, Manager of the emh Green Team, said: “The pupils asked a lot of very good questions and were obviously very keen to learn - how the solar panels worked, and the savings that could be made. It was great to see them so engaged.”

David Rowan, Managing Director of Qore Energy, added: “It was really encouraging for me from a business perspective how broad a role renewables play in the everyday school curriculum. I felt we had some budding staff in our midst. The teachers were also extremely supportive of the initiative to demonstrate the new PV system and deserve tremendous credit for preparing the students so well.”

As an accredited Green Deal Advice Organisation, as well as upgrading many of its own properties with new technologies, the emh Green Team also carries out assessments for home owners and other landlords, offering impartial advice and recommending approved companies to carry out any improvements.