News
June 2008
Students from the Denes High School have been putting their energy saving skills and knowledge to the test after being invited by AKD Engineering to conduct an energy audit of their office at Horn Hill, Lowestoft.
Seven students from the school participated in the event which included a presentation from Fred Pallet, sales and marketing director at AKD, the energy audit conducted by the students, a lunch and learn session with employees and a tour of the site.
Julie Mayo, enterprise co-ordinator at the Denes, said: "As a business and enterprise college we are passionate about working within the community to develop exciting links to support enterprise education with a specific focus on highlighting awareness of the sustainable energy sector."
The students from the school in Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft, were invited to conduct the audit and present their findings as part of the Lowestoft Energy Challenge, in association with Enterprise Lowestoft, Make Your Mark and NESTA.
As well as the audit, the students produced a "Conserving Energy" leaflet for the company - highlighting ways in which employees can save energy in the work place and at home.
Sue Swift, from AKD Engineering, said: "I was impressed with the professionalism of the students and their understanding of all energy issues and feel that they have already made an impact at AKD in terms of awareness. Other companies should embrace the concept of the Lowestoft Energy Challenge initiative to raise young people's awareness of the energy sector and its opportunities"
As well as the visit to AKD the students have participated in a Global Action Planning workshop, a consultation evening with parents and the local community to propose their idea for a wind turbine to be built in the school grounds, and were invited to the NESTA offices, in London, to work alongside speakers from Imperial College, London, and present their ideas and work on the wind turbine to delegates.
The Lowestoft Energy Challenge is also being conducted by Poplars Primary School and Lowestoft College, for which they are working on projects to include mini wind turbines to power school security lighting, a wood-chippings compressor to turn scrap wood into fuel and a sculpture made from locally sourced materials to be placed outside of the new Orbis Energy Centre when it opens later this year.
The Leaflet can be seen here.
