England’s first net zero carbon school in both operation and construction
Buntingford First School in East Hertfordshire opened its doors in September 2023. It was developed by Hertfordshire County Council as a pilot to achieve the first fully net zero carbon school in England. It was designed to Passivhaus standards which results in ultra-low energy buildings, promoting environmental sustainability. This also made it the first Passivhaus school in Hertfordshire, with a project contract value of £9.7m.
Sustainability Credentials
Morgan Sindall, the main contractor, and the architects Holmes Miller conducted early-stage consultation which allowed the project team to plan accordingly, creating a blueprint for other schools to follow in order to meet demanding emissions-saving targets. This scheme involves installation of over 300 solar panels, triple-glazing windows and air-source pumps, as well as having all teaching spaces facing north and avoiding south-facing windows. These aspects help to produce energy sustainably as well as avoid having rooms that overheat easily, mitigating the need for air conditioning. Furthermore, social spaces are south facing to encourage a well-lit, active environment as well as saving on heating costs. Award-winning facts include:
- Net zero carbon in both construction and operation – the first wholly NZC in England
- Beats the embodied carbon target of 600kg of CO2 per square metre – set by the Low Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) – by 50%.
- Surpassing an airtightness target of 0.6 ach (0.25 ach)
By working together collaboratovely the team from Morgan Sindall met the ambitious energy-saving goals of the school presented. In terms of design, some key challenges included collaborating between parties to consolidate internal building services, orientating the building with North/South bias, and working to create an energy-efficient façade. Overcoming these challenges allowed for optimisation of heat control and reducing overall energy demands.
Overall, the school has become known for being the first net zero carbon school in England, accentuating its huge strides towards environmental sustainability. The resulting solutions now serve as a blueprint for other schools aiming to meet ambitious emissions-saving targets.