PassivSystems is partnering with ModCell to develop a protocol that will reduce the carbon footprint of all UK schools to zero. As part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative, the two clean tech firms are developing the ModCell Renewable Schools, a blueprint for the eco schools of the future. BSF’s ambitious goal is to rebuild or renew every school in the UK. The program is the largest ever established for school construction.

ModCell’s Craig White notes, “The combination of our two companies’ technologies makes for an extremely compelling proposition, enabling schools to reduce their carbon emissions drastically.”

The eco-schools will be built using ModCell’s renewable, carbon capturing materials that lower heating costs by up to 85 per cent. The system employs the superior thermal insulation qualities of straw bale and hemp construction to form prefabricated panels. Additionally, PassivEnergy will supply an energy management system to reduce the buildings’ power needs. The system uses sensors and actuators that connect to a building’s heating, hot water and electrical appliances and manages them via an online account. PassivEnergy’s Adaptive Occupancy Control function optimizes power consumption by automatically adjusting to the needs of the building.

PassiveSystems CEO Colin Calder predicts: “Adding PassivEnergy to the ModCell Renewable Schools’ super efficient building system will make these first schools a blueprint for any further schools intent on lowering carbon emissions. A school’s energy needs will vary on an hourly basis and from classroom to classroom and PassivEnergy will learn and manage those requirements to significantly reduce energy use.”

Both ModCell and PassivSystems participated in the recent Clean and Cool Mission to San Francisco, which promoted 19 UK clean tech companies. While there the two finalized their strategic partnership.

The first school is scheduled to be completed by September 2010.

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