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Pupils explore renewables with Mitsubishi

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Students from a Primary School in Rattlesden, Suffolk have been exploring renewable technology with heat pump manufacturer, Mitsubishi Electric – which has been offering its Renewable Training Centre to schools wishing to study renewable energy as part of the curriculum.

Travel costs for the visit to the company’s HQ in Hatfield, Hertfordshire were provided by Bury St Edmunds-based installer Pitkin & Ruddock, who’s sales & marketing director, Damian Nunn is a parent at RattlesdenPrimary School.

The Year 5 students spent the morning learning the importance of reducing energy use, re-using things wherever possible and recycling to help reduce carbon emissions and limit the effects of climate change.

Using a specially designed workbook and purpose-built experiments, the children discovered how photovoltaic panels use solar energy to reduce electricity consumption and also investigated how air source heat pumps can provide heating in the middle of winter, by extracting ‘free’ energy from the outdoor air. 

“It seemed to be a really well designed event which I thought might benefit the school and get the children thinking about their part in combating climate change,” said Damian.

“Around 44 per cent of total UK carbon emissions come from the buildings we live, work and play in, so we have to find ways of reducing energy use in our homes and workplaces and there is no better place to start than with our children.”