Ryecroft C.E. Middle School, Uttoxeter Learning Trust

In September 2018, faculty members at Ryecroft C.E. Middle School in Staffordshire were looking to convert their tiresome, outdated library area into a state of the art ICT suite, fully equipped with approximately 32 workstations, to enable a full classroom-sized congregation of children to be able to work together simultaneously.

Ryecroft approached their IT partner Link2ICT for potential solutions, and put together a very specific brief to reiterate the importance of how their ICT suite should be specifically designed so that it was completely energy efficient. The sustainability factor was particularly important as Ryecroft remain very conscious about their environmental impacts, and continue to stay informed about their energy costs after working hard to reduce their energy usage over the last few years. Link2ICT therefore recommended the ELe ‘Power over Ethernet’ ICT solution, after our patented technology best fit the brief for renewable, low voltage power solutions.

The Technology Solution:

Link2ICT installed: 32 Intel i3 NUC Computers and 19″ LED screens – powered using the innovative ELe Power over Ethernet (PoE) solution. This innovative system works through ELe patented technology, whereby each computer and its screen are powered using a single ethernet cable, meaning as well as low energy costs, the system also delivers tidier desk space, as well as eliminating the need for 3 pin plugs or AC/240V/50Hz, making it a much safer place for children to work.

Each new computer and LED screen runs at about 35W power usage in total (Approx 3 pence per day) to operate or less than a £GBP pound a day for the whole ICT suite – 32 computers!

The benefits of the ELe Computer suite include:

• –> Approx 2 tonnes of CO2 saved per year
• –> Reduced noise from the PC’s
• –> Reduced heat generation and thus ambient cooling requirements
• –> Enhanced green credentials
• –> Removal 3 pin plugs, extension leads and cables (only 1 Ethernet cable)
• –> Removal PAT testing requirements
• –> Increased flexibility to relocate PC’s within classroom environment
• –> Teaching aid to educate children regarding energy usage and reduction in the classroom.

“The new computers are fantastic, they are so quiet and use such little energy it is exactly what we were looking for. I did not know you could power a computer and its screen with an existing ethernet cable like this! We look forward to installing more Intel NUC’s powered by ELe in the future”

– Sally Andrews / Ryecroft School 

The ELe®Energy Monitoring Package was also installed at Ryecroft, so that the school could see at any time the amount of energy required to run the ICT suite. As well as allowing the school to manage their energy bills more effectively, this also presented a fantastic teaching opportunity for the children.