Herefordshire school wins national award

Whitecross Hereford High School and Specialist College scooped the national award for Best Sustainable Innovation at the Local Authority Building Control Awards. The building contractors Stepnell should be congratulated for their achievement both in design and execution.

The award recognises excellent innovation in thermal excellence, lighting (natural and electric) and work under the Constructing Excellence Demonstration Project.

George Salmon, head of commissioning and improvement, said: "When Whitecross was built the design was firmly based on green and sustainable guidelines and I am pleased this has been recognised at a national level."

"The brief from the school, governors and Herefordshire Council was to produce a building which not only maximised the use of natural light but which would also keep energy and water usage to a minimum and this has been achieved," he added.

Mr Mark Wakeford, managing director of Stepnell, said: "This is a prestigious accolade that recognises the huge amount of work that our whole team did to ensure the community around Whitecross has a sustainable school. We are very proud that we beat stiff competition to the award and it demonstrates what is possible in the exacting standards of local education."

Alan Lyons, Project Manger of Stepnell for the school has also been named gold award winner in the PFI Projects category of the Construction Manager of the Year Awards. This award recognised Alan's exemplar work in delivering the scheme on time to a high quality and his work with the local community through the Considerate Contractors Scheme.

The school's design uses a ducted fresh air heating system. This system provides heated fresh air to classrooms. This air supply is therefore regulated and not as wasteful of energy as opening windows would be. The constantly supplied fresh air also produces a good working atmosphere and aids attentiveness in lessons.

The heating system was designed in conjunction with the high levels of insulation and heavy mass of the buildings, to provide a finely controlled environment.

The school's most obvious green measure, as viewed from the outside, is its sedum roof covering which has been laid over the majority of the roof surfaces on the school. Sedum is an alpine succulent and, as well as helping the school blend into its environment, it also absorbs rainwater and therefore reduces the amount of storm water discharged into the local Yazor Brook.

At Whitecross, going to the loo provides a contribution to the environment too. The school has low usage cisterns and the taps close by themselves to save water

A green travel plan for the new school was also drawn up and bicycle sheds and a mini bus waiting shelter were incorporated into the final design of the school.

Whitecross has also been awarded a Green Apple award from the Green Organisation. The Green Organisation is an independent, non-political, non-profit making environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world and the awards scheme is now in its13th year.