Hydromx, which manufactures the nanofluid, has called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to include the approach in his new Greener Schools programme.
According to a statement, nanofluid is delivering gas bill savings of up to 35% for a trio of schools in Greater London.
The statement added that the schools in Wansted, Romford and Dagenham have also reduced carbon emissions by up to 9.7 tonnes per year after having their heating systems upgraded with the nanofluid, accelerating the speed with which rooms and spaces in the buildings heat up.
Berkin Arikan, CEO of Hydromx, said he believes it has “massive potential” to reduce school energy bills and cut their carbon emissions without the need for capital investment or major disruption to school operations.
He said: “We applaud Mayor Khan’s drive to address fuel bills and carbon emissions and in doing so keep children warm and free-up school budgets for much-needed resources. And, while we support the installation of solar and heat pump technology, our work with The Diocese of Chelmsford installing Hydromx into more than 35 schools across Essex – including Wansted, Romford and Dagenham – has highlighted how a really straight-forward, quick and cost-effective approach can deliver huge energy and carbon savings.”
Installation requires draining the heating system and re-filling with a mix of water and the nanofluid. The statement said that it can take “as little as a morning”, results are instant and ROI is typically around two years. The approach is suitable for buildings of all types and ages, it noted, including Victorian and Listed buildings.
One headmaster said: “The very first day after installation everyone said the school felt hot. The radiators were roasting rather than being lukewarm. It really has made a big difference.”