Solar & Battery Powered Transportable Classrooms Make Canberra Debut

Hivve solar classroom example

Kids may have it easier these days in some ways, but that can be a very good thing when it comes to their learning environment.

Canberra can get very cold in winter and quite toasty in summer. I went to school in our nation’s capital decades ago and spent part of that time in transportable classrooms when the my school’s population swelled.

Learning in these “demountable” classrooms was awful for students and I don’t think the teachers were particularly fond of them either. There was no insulation and air-conditioning consisted of a large noisy fan stuck in the corner. I can’t clearly remember if there was heating of any sort, but there may have been a bar heater.

Transportable classrooms have of course evolved since then and Australian company Hivve has done a lot to make learning (and teaching) in these “demountables” not only more comfortable, but also more sustainable. Additionally, Hivve says what it creates is an “education ecosystem”.

Sustainable materials used in Hivve transportable classrooms including recycled glass insulation and special consideration is given to temperature control, fresh air, natural light, acoustics and layout. Other features include composite decking made from recycled plastic and waste timber, and double-glazed windows.

Through the use of solar panels and batteries, a Hivve can generate enough electricity for its own energy needs and two other air-conditioned, conventional classrooms. But in the example image above, there’s very little tilt on the solar panels, which makes me wonder if they would accumulate grime.

The learning opportunity side of Hivve is through the integration of smart technology, including an energy dashboard providing real-time data on the building’s energy and indoor air quality data.

“This real-time information makes it easy for teachers to mange the classroom environment for optimal learning and gives students real life lessons in sustainable practices,” says the company.

Hivve iQ tech-smarts monitors and manages the building, using cloud-based storage for all the classroom’s performance data.

Majura Primary School Gets Hivves

Majura Primary School in Canberra’s inner north suburb of Watson has recently taken possession of Hivve transportables. Principal Liz Bobos seemed pretty happy with the new additions, noting in a recent update:

“The rooms are lovely big spaces with shared wet areas and teacher offices. The buildings have solar panels on the roof and solar batteries on the Irvine Street side and are designed to generate all their own power. This is an exciting step towards Majura’s quest for sustainability.”

ACT Minister for Education and Youth Affairs and Minister for Early Childhood Development Yvette Berry was similarly impressed after a visit last week to Majura Primary School.

“These new sustainable transportables illustrate the integrated sustainability approach being applied to Canberra public school infrastructure as the ACT transitions to a net zero emission future,” said Ms. Berry. “Transportable classrooms are a part of our strategic plan for student growth across Canberra.”

Back in 2018, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) provided Hivve with $368,115 in funding to pilot their modular classrooms in a school environment.