UK’s First Solar Secured School
12th November 2006
St Alphege Church of England Infants School, in Whitstable, Kent, prides itself on its caring, friendly and child centred atmosphere.
With a strong environmental awareness, an established large nature garden and a strict recycling policy, the new solar powered security system was the perfect solution for a school with a green conscience and a duty of care.
This was an ethos that was carried through to the stunning new nursery school development and the innovative solar powered security system.
The voluntary aided, 25 pupil nursery school was completed in 2006 on the existing school grounds by leading Kent architects, Lee Evans Partnership.
As part of the school’s growing importance to it’s community, the nursery allows St Alphege Infants to provide a safe learning environment to pre-school children in the area.
Security Objectives
Although on the same site as two existing schools, it was important the nursery had its own secure entrance for parents and visitors, due to the differences in the nursery timetable.
The new entrance gates were some way from the nursery and out of site of the reception area. Yet it was vital that nursery staff could know who was coming into the school and to be able to secure the gates during the school day.
The Green Gate Company, working with the architects, installed a Solar READI-Kit automated gate to the new entrance that meets the school’s new security needs.
Many of the visitors have young children and pushchairs and the automated gate allows them easy access to the school grounds.
The entrance automatically opens for 20 minutes in the morning and afternoon as parents arrive, saving the school’s caretaker time from his busy schedule.
During the teaching day, a wireless intercom system allows the nursery staff to activate the gate if required and a SureBolt electric lock keeps it secured at all other times.
Environmentally friendly
There are many advantages of using solar security over conventional methods.
The most important being the fact it is low voltage and requires no additional power. This means no expensive and disruptive groundworks to lay potentially lethal mains power across playgrounds and fields to the school boundaries.
The new security gate has no further running costs, with the solar panels guaranteed for 25 years.
Simple, safe and ‘green’
“The new nursery is a fantastic resource for the school and the solar security gate means the staff and pupils can be sure of safety while they are here” explains head teacher, Mrs Evans.
She continues, “We are an adventurous school and like to keep at the forefront of technology and environmental issues. Doing our bit for the environment is a really important ethos that we instill in our pupils.”
‘Automate today the Green way!’
Rated to operate on the shortest day of the year, the patented READI-Kit school gate features a high level of built-in safety, ensuring reliable and care-free operation everytime, everyday.
Ready to fit with a range of access control accessories (such as intercoms, swipe-card readers, automatic exit loops and infrared safety beams), each installation can be fully customised to suit even the most demanding needs.
“As a company, our commitment to the environment goes further than adopting solar power. We can all make a difference and every little helps” explains The Green Gate Company managing director, Neil Sampson.
“Using low energy bulbs, insulation, re-using, recycling, public transport and alternative energy all help to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment.’
‘But we live in a busy world, with busy lives, and sometimes we have to consider our security perhaps more than we would like.’
‘At The Green Gate Company we are proud to offer a range of security and lighting solutions powered by renewable resources” concludes Neil Sampson.
“We are harnessing the sun’s energy to make your school safer, greener and more convenient.”
Latest News
School Electric Gates and Barriers - A Green Solution «read more»
Solar Gates UK Installer Network Widens «read more»
Clean Water for Third World Communities «read more»
Approved Supplier
