Masterclass in carbon-cutting construction

Published on Monday 31 August 2009 21:35

A PIONEERING school in a remote part of the Highlands could give lessons to other areas in developing energy-efficient classes, it has been claimed.

Education secretary Fiona Hyslop visited Acharacle in Ardnamurchan to see Scotland's first wholly sustainable school, which accommodates 48 English-speaking and Gaelic-speaking medium primary school pupils and 14 in the nursery.

The school is so well insulated and draught-proofed that the heat from the children, staff and computers is enough to warm the building. All internal materials are natural, including untreated timber, linoleum, clay plaster and vegetable-based paints.

Most of the school is made from wood and there is a wind turbine on the hill behind the school to provide hot water. Rainwater is collected from the copper roofs to flush the toilets. Electricity consumption is cut through the use of large, triple-glazed windows to increase daylight, and by using very energy-efficient appliances.

Ms Hyslop said: "It is important that we have a low-carbon school estate, both for the environment and also to help authorities reduce rising fuel costs.

"I am in no doubt that what we are seeing here at Acharacle is the future of school construction. It is important we learn lessons from this school for the rest of Scotland."

The community waited 22 years for a new school and it finally arrived in kit form on the back of a lorry from Austria last year. It replaced a building described by parents as "dreadful", which included a "temporary" classroom that was used for 20 years.