Penyffordd Primary School: Energy Reduction in School Kitchen

- 10,163 kWh saved annually
- 2.29 tonnes CO₂ saved per year
- £2,540.75 annual savings
- 22-month payback period
- 87% fan energy reduction

Penyffordd Primary School is located in Chester, serving 315 full-time pupils. Flintshire County Council started a modernisation project to create a learning environment that meets current educational needs while being adaptable to future demands. As part of the council's commitment to sustainability and reducing energy consumption, Cheetah was integrated into the kitchen refurbishment design.

picture of a pen pot at a primary school

The Challenge

The school kitchen operates a single wall canopy with a standard EC 0-10V 3kW extract fan and 2.2kW supply fan. The fans ran 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, consuming 11,632 kWh annually. With rising concerns about global warming and the council's broader objective of achieving Net Zero, the school needed to reduce energy usage and carbon output while future-proofing the building against evolving environmental standards.

The Solution

Cheetah was installed and integrated into the school's existing BMS system. The extract fan speed was set to minimum 20Hz and maximum 46Hz, allowing the system to adjust ventilation based on actual cooking demand. By implementing demand-controlled kitchen ventilation, Cheetah optimises energy efficiency by matching fan speeds to kitchen activity rather than running constantly at full power.

The Results

Annual savings: 10,163 kWh, 2.29 tonnes of CO₂, and £2,540.75 in costs. The 87% fan energy reduction achieved a 22-month payback period. The installation significantly reduced the school's overall carbon footprint while ensuring the building meets current and future environmental standards. The system operates automatically through the BMS, requiring no manual intervention from school staff.

Ongoing Partnership

We continue to install Cheetah in schools of all sizes across the country. Contact our sales team for additional real-time data from other schools where Cheetah has been installed.