Zero Carbon Luton
Well, November already. We’re 11 months into our pilot year for the newsletter - is it working for you? What would you like to see more of? What else would you find useful? Drop me a line at jeremy@earthboundventures.org - and in the meantime, some stories:
Luton’s pioneering geothermal Sixth Form College
Friends of the Earth’s United for Warm Homes Campaign
Luton Station discussed in Parliament
Luton’s pioneering sixth form college
Luton Sixth Form College is the oldest in the country, and with 3,200 students, one of the largest as well. It's also a remarkable example of innovation in sustainable architecture, and I recently took a tour.
In 2007, the college announced that it would be rebuilt in its entirety. When the new building opened in 2010, it had a host of sustainability features and one particular claim to fame: it was the biggest geothermally heated building in Europe.
Geothermal heating is unusual, and it makes the most of Luton's specific geography. Beneath the building is a chalk aquifer, with water running downhill deep under the site. Being deep underground, the water here is a consistent 11 degrees C all year round. So the designers of the new building created a heating and cooling solution tailored to this opportunity.
At one end of the site there is a 50 metre deep borehole, which draws up water from the aquifer. It runs through a heat exchanger in the basement, which extracts warmth from the water. Only the heat is used. All the groundwater is returned to the aquifer through a second borehole at the other end of the site. Through a series of heat pumps, the geothermal system provides the building's heating and the hot water for kitchens and bathrooms. The same system is reversible in order to cool the building in summer.
The basement is also home to the rainwater tank. Rainwater is harvested from the roof and is piped to all the bathrooms in the building to flush the toilets.
The building is also designed to maximise natural light, with teaching spaces radiating out from a central hub. Light wells cut through to bring daylight to the ground floor. A quiet courtyard garden brings external windows to internal offices. Natural ventilation is provided through automated louvres.
Outside, generous bike parking space encourages students and staff to travel sustainably. A bike maintenance station is available, and apparently there's a dedicated charge point for e-bikes somewhere on site, though I didn't get to see it. Not something I've seen before, but that I expect will become more common.
There's more to do. As early adopters, the college has found that the heat pumps are less efficient than the ones available now and they will be replaced in time. An all-electric building is also proving less economic as electricity prices rise, and there are plans for extensive solar arrays on the roof to reduce costs. Electric car charging points are on their way, and we saw the electrician at work as the lighting is upgraded to LEDs throughout the site.
All of this didn't come cheap - this was a £56 million project, delivered by a major architecture firm. (KSS, whose other projects include the basketball arena for the 2012 Olympics and Liverpool FC's training centre.) But this is an efficient, low carbon facility built with an eye on the future. It's the college Luton's ambitious young people deserve, and a building to be proud of.
If you’re doing something pioneering with your home or premises, why not tell us all about it below? We’ll feature it in a future newsletter, so we can learn from what you’re up to.
The United for Warm Homes campaign
Luton Friends of the Earth activist Julie Furnivall writes about the current cost of living crisis:
I am deeply concerned about fuel poverty in Luton. I am concerned that so many local people are making choices between heating and food. A cruel choice to have to make, and one that we at Friends of the Earth think is wrong.
The energy crisis affects some communities worse than others. Nationally, Friends of the Earth’s research shows that there are almost 9,000 energy crisis ‘hotspots’ across the UK. Energy crisis hotspots are neighbourhoods where energy use is high (often because home lack adequate insulation) and typical household income is below the national average.
Here in Luton, most of our neighbourhoods are energy crisis ‘hotspots’ and we want to do something about this. I am is currently contacting local charities, faith groups and renters’ associations to identify ways to work in partnership with those organisations, to lobby for well-insulated, warm homes.
Nationally, Friends of the Earth’s Warm Homes campaign calls upon decision makers to insulate homes and provide permanent solutions to our broken energy system, through shifts to renewable energy. You can read about the campaign in more detail here and on the United for Warm Homes website.
To kick the local campaign off, I am asking key people to sign a pledge to work together on the warm homes campaign. The pledge reads:
Our energy system has failed us. But we have the solutions to fix it. We are local organisations, community groups and campaigners coming together to demand:
1. Urgent additional financial support to keep people warm.
2. An emergency programme to insulate our homes.
3. Transformation of our failed energy system to work for people and planet, not profit.
United, we will win the fight for warm homes that don’t cost the earth.
I am hoping to take lots of photographs of people with their signed pledge. These photographs will be used to flood social media on December 3rd, which is the date that is earmarked for the Warm Homes Day of Action. After December 3rd, Luton Friends of the Earth will continue to post pictures of pledges right up until next summer.
If you’d like to be involved, you can make contact with me by e-mail: Julie.furnivall@icloud.com
Luton Station discussed in Parliament
Rachel Hopkins, MP for Luton South, secured a Parliamentary debate on Luton Station this week. It was an opportunity to directly challenge the Transport Secretary, Huw Merriman.
Luton residents will need no reminder about the problem. Despite 3.5 million journeys via the station in 2019-2020, it is decrepit and out-dated, and inaccessible to the disabled and elderly. The leaking roof is a well known water hazard for disembarking commuters. It’s not fit for purpose, and a town of Luton’s size deserves better.
There are several reasons why Luton Station needs a complete redevelopment. Accessibility is the most urgent. Development is another, as Hopkins said in her remarks to Parliament. “A train station is a gateway to a town.” It creates a first impression. “Improving the station as that gateway to our town centre would increase the attractiveness of Luton to residents and visitors, which is key to creating jobs, attracting investment and encouraging businesses to come to Luton.”
Hopkins also made the climate connection: “Improving Luton’s rail offer also aligns with the UK’s wider aim of reaching net zero. A positive rail passenger experience is vital to encouraging the shift from cars to rail. It is clear that the current experience of Luton residents is not encouraging them to make that shift.” A better station would encourage more sustainable travel, including for the fans travelling in support of a rising Luton Town FC.
Hopkins challenged the Minister to detail when the works on a new lift would happen, and she also invited him to visit Luton to see the station for himself. He agreed to a visit, and pledged to work with Luton’s two MPs and partners for a solution.
Followers of the Luton station saga will know better than to hold their breath. But it’s good to see high level discussion of the problem, and we will keep you up to date on any important news, or campaigns you can join to improve the station.
Protestors target private aviation
Protestors have targeted private aviation at Luton Airport as part of a coordinated day of action around the world. A small group of Extinction Rebellion members blocked entrances to Harrods Aviation, holding signs saying ‘ban private jets’ and ‘tax frequent flyers’.
In other news
Have you been thinking about getting an electric vehicle? Got a question about owning and driving an electric car in Luton? Drop it in the comments below and I’ll put your question to some EV drivers in the town.
Easyjet and Rolls-Royce jointly announced the first ever test of a modern jet engine running on hydrogen - an early but important step towards clean aviation. (We know hydrogen planes are possible because the USSR made one once, and here’s more on why hydrogen is a good solution for low carbon transport.)
Our neighbours in Central Bedfordshire have unveiled a solar car park, with solar panels embedded in the ground. It’s at the Thorn Turn highways depot and yes, cars can safely roll over the panels.
A reminder that the Woodland Trust is offering free trees for schools and community groups that want to do some tree planting. Offer ends soon, so don’t delay!
Zero Carbon Luton is on Twitter. We haven’t been using it much, but we plan to - if Elon doesn’t break it. Follow us!
And finally
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Send in your stories
Got a story to share? What’s happening where you are to help shift Luton towards a low carbon future?
Send your stories and questions to Jeremy Williams: jeremy@earthboundventures.org
The next newsletter will be out in December, with further stories and updates at zerocarbonluton.org