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Turning green into gold
Government grants and charitable and private investment has helped schools install a range of sustainable technology in the past few years. Wind turbines, solar panels and heat pumps are making schools more environmentally friendly, pupils are learning more and schools are saving money on their electricity bills.While schools can apply for a range of funding streams, these schemes are soon due to expire and will be replaced with a new initiative. Here are some of the schemes that are up and running.
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 | | Gunnersbury Catholic, Hounslow
Mounted on the roof of the science block, the school's 1.5kWp solar installation received funding from Scottish Power and the PV programme. A display unit allows pupils, visitors and teachers to monitor energy production and carbon dioxide savings, with the information analysed in science classes.
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 | | St James the Great, Croydon
Alongside government grants and private investment, schools are also raising the money themselves. St James raised an extra £1,000 towards its solar power system by selling ice creams after school. Other schools have packed bags at local supermarkets and organised fashion shows to raise extra cash.
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 | | Learning about solar power
Renewable energy also provides a great learning tool. The installation of the panels at St James was marked by a launch event held by the mayor of Croydon, who unveiled a solar display for teachers, pupils and parents. Afterwards there was a solar car workshop with Year 4, and the technology is also helping pupils work towards their Key Stage 2 exams.
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 | | St Joseph's infants, Croydon
St Joseph's sells the excess electricity created by its solar panels back to the national grid. Teachers say the school is setting an example to the community by providing a working example of renewable energy technology. A display unit allows pupils and visitors to monitor energy production, giving children the chance to learn about the environment, technology and economics.
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 | | Orchard Community primary, Derbyshire
Though solar power is the most popular installation so far, more schools are introducing biomass heating, like this one at Orchard Community primary school. Energy is created when trees, crops or animal dung are burned. Though carbon emissions are produced, this is balanced by the fact that the material being burnt is - unlike fossil fuels - quickly replaceable.
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 | | Wind power
The Clear Skies scheme has funded 25 school wind turbine projects to date in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with five completed and paid for. By the time the initiative comes to an end next year, £12.5m will have been allocated to education projects since 2003. Scotland has its own funding scheme for community wind power projects.
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 | | Beaumont primary, Suffolk
Beaumont installed a wind turbine two years ago that generates enough electricity each day to run all the computers in the ICT suite. "The children have quickly taken on board the whole concept of renewable energy," said the headteacher, Stella Burton. "We are sure that they will use the knowledge and understanding that they have gained to improve their future lives and the lives of those around them."
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 | | Nidderdale high, Harrogate
Nidderdale raised more than £90,000 in funding to install its wind turbine two years ago. The school says the installation has saved nearly £3,000 a year with the turbine meeting 15% of its electricity needs.
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 | | Morgan academy, Dundee
Morgan academy received £100,000 of Scottish government funding to install ground source heat pumps (boreholes for which are being dug here) that heat the atrium and assembly hall. The school was also awarded funding under the PV programme to install a solar energy system to power the pumps.
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 | | Teaching packs
Last week the DTI launched a classroom-based programme on renewable energies and the part pupils can play. It's Only Natural includes lessons for primary school pupils; science lessons for students aged 11-16 and geography lessons for 11 to 18-year-olds. There will also be a website live on December 5 where the packs can be downloaded and pupils and teachers can find more information on renewables.
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· By Jessica Aldred |
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· Photographs courtesy of Creative Environmental Networks and the Department for Trade and Industry |
Funding gap threat to green schemes in schools