A case study in energy efficiency: Sutton coldfield deanery first and middle schools

Two linked schools at Walmley in Birmingham are the subject of a Department of Energy “Energy Conservation Demonstration Project”. Designed for the Birmingham Diocesan Education Council to provide for approximately 500 children (ages 5–13) the schools are intended to be energy efficient within the constraints of traditional techniques and cost limits.The object of the case study is to demonstrate the viability of various energy conservation measures through the monitoring of the design, construction, use, and performance of the schools.Design work started in 1977, and partial occupancy in 1980 has been followed by full occupancy in September, 1981. This paper presents, in an anecdotal format, some of the observations by the monitoring team of the design, construction, and initial occupancy periods.