Peter Lalor Secondary College

Peter Lalor Secondary College is a school made up of multiple buildings that house administration and staff areas, permanent class rooms, trade class rooms, library and resource centre, canteen, gym, ablution areas and the Merriang Centre, set in gardens and lawn areas.

Peter Lalor has a student population of 360 students and 48 full time and part time staff.

Peter Lalor Secondary College was eager to implement water saving initiatives as a way to reduce costs and benefit the environment. When the savewater!® efficiency service was offered, Peter Lalor saw the opportunity as a way to improve the schools water related costs. A water efficiency appraisal was undertaken of the entire site. By measuring flow rates from water use appliances, calculating usage based on type of occupancy and pedestrian traffic, conducting discussions with staff and collecting assumptions based on experience, a comprehensive report and set of recommendations was able to be developed.

The appraisal highlighted various areas for improvement. The water pressure and flow rates delivered to all appliances measured at Peter Lalor were more than adequate for all uses measured. For most vanity basins, basins, sinks and showers the flow rates measured were significantly higher than required. These high flow rates contributed significantly to water, energy (hot water) wastage and unnecessary sewerage discharge costs (SDC). In most sinks measured the flow rates exceeded the use requirements leading to splashing and user wetting and hence a lower level of amenity than can be provided if the flow rate is matched to use requirements. Some wash down hoses had flow rates of 30 l/min with no nozzle attached, making the effectiveness questionable.

The appraisal also identified that the hot water system currently in use was oversized for the required duty. Over the Christmas holidays the gas usage attributed to the hot water system was in excess of $400 per month. All of this energy seems to have been consumed by the circulation of the hot water.

Peter Lalor was presented with a comprehensive program for saving water. Each appliance was identified and actions recommended in order to minimise their water use while not impacting their function.

Water saving measures were recommended, identifying the financial benefits.

Peter Lalor was also advised to replace the existing hot water system with smaller locally positioned units, to overcome the excessive gas usage over the Christmas period.

Peter Lalor were able to clearly see that the recommendations presented would result in a number of benefits. Implementation of all recommended water efficiency measures would result in total annual cost savings of $3,574. These annual savings are made up of water costs, sewerage discharge costs (SDC) and energy (hot water).

Based on installation costs, total annual water, SDC and energy (hot water) cost savings the payback period was identified to be 12.7 months.