6 June 2019

Government turns the heat up with nine public schools to receive heating upgrades

| Lachlan Roberts
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Yvette Berry

Ms Berry said the heating upgrades will improve school sustainability. Photo: George Tsotsos.

Nine ageing public schools will benefit from new heating upgrades that will see gas-fired boilers replaced with low to zero-emission electric heat pumps.

Red Hill School, Fadden Primary School, Forrest Primary School, Lyneham Primary School, Wanniassa Hills Primary School, Mount Stromlo High School, Alfred Deakin High School, Telopea Park School and Hawker College will receive upgraded heating systems to the tune of $15.9 million over four years.

ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said the rollout at ageing ACT public schools had the aim of reducing polluting emissions as much as possible.

At four of these schools, gas-fired boilers will be replaced by electric heat pumps, entirely removing reliance on gas for heating.

Hybrid gas and electric systems will allow for an 80 per cent reduction in emissions at a further two schools, and at the remaining school, the emissions will be reduced by a quarter through new, efficient gas condenser boilers.

The government will also undertake energy efficiency upgrades including double-glazing windows, improved insulation, airlocks, automatic doors and draught-proofing to create a more comfortable environment for students and staff.

Ms Berry said she expects the rollout of new heating systems at the schools will see a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by at least 621 tonnes.

“This significant emission reduction makes an important contribution to the ACT Government’s emission reduction goal of zero net emissions by 2045, as well as reducing school energy costs,” Ms Berry said.

“These upgrades will improve the resilience of school buildings to extreme temperatures to make sure learning and teaching environments maintain a stable and optimal temperature.

“This government will continue to invest in providing the best learning environments for all public school students in Canberra. The government is further building on this commitment with this 2019 Budget investment in heating upgrades.”

The $15.9 million ACT Government investment follows a $17.9 million government investment on roof upgrades in the 2018 Budget and an $85 million investment to school upgrades in the 2017 Budget.

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