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Watts Going Down?
Ever-increasing power costs and greenhouse gas emissions are concerning everyone but, if the 
example set by Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill is a guide, then we can all benefit from the many solutions available to address these issues.
Mark O’Hara, Cranbrook Facilities Manager, and Allan Hobbs, Maintenance Manager, engaged Brian Cassidy, Managing Director of Caslec Electrical, to find a way to reduce the School’s electricity demand and costs.
The School’s electricity accounts were reviewed and, after some appropriate testing, the installation of Power Factor Correction was recommended. This is a power saving system which is installed at the main switchboards. The system, which is embraced by all supply authorities, was immediately recognised by the Management Committee and the Maintenance Team as a way to reduce the School’s energy consumption and costs. The work was soon underway.
However, the layout of the School presented some challenges with regard to the installation of the heavy equipment. It had to be placed in the roof top plant room above the School’s library which is located six levels above where the equipment was to be delivered. It was clear that this project required equipment more specialised than a long reaching crane jib. A helicopter, perhaps?
Heli Aust, a helicopter company specialising in difficult lifts, devised a flight plan and strategy to place the power saving equipment in the plant room.
On a cool, clear July morning the Heli Aust 450Hp 206 Bell Jet Ranger helicopter landed in perfect time on the School’s Hordern Oval at the bottom of the Bellevue Hill campus. The Heli ground staff quickly hitched up the electrical equipment ready for take off. With some skilful manoeuvring by the pilot, the equipment found its home in the plant room. Within five minutes, delivery was complete and the Caslec technicians had moved into action to complete the installation.
After the final commissioning process, the results were in. There was an immediate 10% decrease in the School’s power demand and a 15% decrease is expected during the summer months. The School will enjoy the benefit of lower electricity costs and fewer green house emissions from now on.