Sustainability is a main priority at Cheshire College.
We’re committed to helping improve the environment so that we can provide a better environment for future generations and maintain and develop businesses in a sustainable manner.
How we demonstrate environment sustainability practices…
Our £680,000 sustainable house project is helping to address skills gaps in eco-friendly construction by giving students and industry professionals hands-on experience with the sustainable technologies, techniques, and practices needed to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly homes.
Located at our Ellesmere Port Campus, the sustainable house provides students of all ages and experience levels with the opportunity to get involved in everything from installing sustainable features to maintaining the property.
For those new to the industry, it offers a valuable introduction to eco-friendly construction methods and technologies, building a strong foundation for a career in sustainable construction. For experienced tradespeople, it provides an opportunity to develop new skills and upskill in response to increasingly ambitious sustainability standards.
Every element of the property has been constructed with sustainability in mind. Key features of the sustainable house include:
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery use very little energy compared to standard systems, minimising ventilation heat losses and helping to reduce the property’s carbon footprint. It can also be used to extract stale or polluted air if needed.
The house uses a rainwater harvesting system to collect rainwater from the roof and store it in a tank for reuse. Using harvested rainwater for can reduce the demand for mains water, helping to conserve water and reduce the energy and carbon emissions associated with pumping and treating the mains supply.
The house’s insulation is made from 100% pure sheep wool, which is a sustainable and renewable insulation resource. The insulation works to regulate indoor temperatures, keeping the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer and reducing the need for excessive heating or air conditioning use.
This is an essential element of any solar energy system, allowing the conversion of direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) and making the energy generated usable for a wide range of uses. Inverters can also store excess energy or feed it back to the main power grid.
Heat Pump Control Panel
This control panel helps to manage the sustainable air source heat pump in the house. As these pumps rely on electricity rather than burning fossil fuels, they produce lower carbon dioxide emissions, improve air quality, and help to combat global warming.
The water-based underfloor heating system operates at lower water temperatures than traditional radiator systems, helping to heat the building efficiently and evenly. This makes underfloor heating particularly well suited to low-carbon heating technologies such as heat pumps, which operate more efficiently at lower temperatures.
The house uses energy-efficient LED lighting, which requires less electricity than traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting to produce the same amount of light. This helps reduce energy use and running costs.
The wallpaper is PEFC-certified, supporting the use of paper from responsibly managed forests. It is printed using organic pigments and non-toxic inks, with a deliberately misaligned design that minimises waste during installation.
The carpet is handwoven using recycled fishing nets and bottle tops, while the brown flooring is made from recycled coffee husks, giving waste materials a new life.
We’re committed to creating a cleaner, greener future, with a clear goal of achieving net zero emissions across our Campuses. Sustainability is at the heart of all of our decisions, helping us to protect our planet and build a brighter future.
You may see a fee attached to the course you’re interested in, but if you are 19+ there may be funding options available to cover the cost of your course.
Get in touch with admissions@ccsw.ac.uk if you’d like anymore information.
