Sustainability News

No More Gas!

During the Term 2 holidays, FPS transitioned away from gas!

We had two outdated hot gas water systems: one in the main building, which was nine years old, and another in the gym, which was a 15-year-old instantaneous system. Both were operating inefficiently with 25mm ring mains. To explain briefly, this setup includes a small return pipe that lets water flow back to the heater, and a circulating pump keeps hot water continuously moving around the system. This ensured hot water was readily available at fixtures. However, as the plumber explained, the 25mm mains were too large for a school, and more suitable for a college with 15 showers. A significant amount of energy was wasted due to the continuous circulation of hot water around the building, even during holidays.

In the main building, we installed a heat pump (funded by a State Government grant), which is 80 to 90% more efficient than the old system. In the gym, we replaced the old system with a 50-litre electric unit.

Additionally, we upgraded the gas oven to electric, enabling us to fully disconnect from the gas supply. This will reduce costs since we won’t need to pay for the two commercial metre connections anymore. 

One of the key benefits of ResourceSmart Schools is that it enables schools to monitor their utility bills, pinpoint areas for improvement, leading to energy and cost savings. We will track the energy use of the new systems and the cost savings overtime and report back to the community.

Thank you to the ESWG members who researched grants, obtained quotes, and helped drive this important shift toward a more sustainable operation for FPS. If you’re interested in getting involved or have suggestions regarding FPS sustainability, please attend a meeting or reach out to Amelia: ameliatrompf@gmaiil.com 

~ Amelia Trompf, FPS Sustainability Coordinator