College Gets A Green Boost
Wednesday, 15th July, 2009
The college has been involved in the development of a new green power measuring device called a Power Predictor which has been designed and now produced by a London-based company Better Generation Ltd. The pack contains an anemometer (wind speed measurer), a battery-operated, waterproof data logger, usb connectors and wires. It was launched on 18 June.
The idea behind the device is that anyone thinking about investing in a wind turbine needs to make sure there’s enough wind or if looking at a solar panel – enough sunlight. So you use the device to measure what you are actually getting on your site to check the viability. It collects wind speed, wind direction and solar activity, and stores up to a year’s information on the data logger. At any time, you unplug the logger and connect to Better Generation’s web site. Their analysis tool looks at the wind patterns and compares them with the characteristics of each of the turbines on the market (some are better in turbulent wind, others in ‘clean’ wind). It will also tell you the electricity generated and the carbon saved, as well as the financial break even point (for both wind and sun).
The school had early sight of prototypes and realised that there were many educational links with the device – ie teachers can link the wind data to Geography lessons, the power generation to Science, the economics to Business Studies and so on. So, Better Generation are helping the school to market a School’s Version which will contain free lesson plans and activities around the device. Suffolk County Education Department are fully behind the project and are helping the school write the material which should be available from September, on line.
Pupils at the school will be used as guinea pigs for the development of the lessons and will also be the creators of some of the video material.
Perry Linsley – the Head teacher said “We are very excited about this programme as our staff will be able to teach in a themed way and start to breakdown the barriers between subject areas. We believe that this will mean our pupils will be better equipped for the changing world of work. Jobs, are rarely subject specific. We hope that all schools in the country will benefit from the work we are doing here.”
Our device will be put on top of the broadband tower during the holiday.
Several national organisations are showing an interest in funding the programme which will means that schools that buy the Power Predictor pack will have access to the free resources on the web site. The Power Predictor sells at £99.95 inc VAT.
For pictures and more information about the device see www.bettergeneration.com or www.powerpredictor.com
Mr L Hammond