The 2009 Ashden Award for Schools, supported by WWF, was awarded jointly to Ashley CofE Primary School from Walton-on-Thames and Edinburgh's Currie Community High School at a glittering ceremony in London in the presence of HRH Prince of Wales, patron of the Ashden Awards.
Motivated by their head teacher's expedition to Antarctica in 2007 to see first hand the impact of climate change, Ashley pupils have worked alongside governors and staff to make the school an inspiring success story: the school has adopted a range of renewable technologies and energy efficiency measures: a solar photovoltaic array, energy efficient lighting and behavioural activities have resulted in a 51% reduction in annual electricity consumption at the school, leading to 11 tonnes of CO2 saved per year. The installation of a biomass boiler has reduced the use of gas and thus further lowered the schools carbon emissions.
Currie is a 900-pupil secondary school near Edinburgh that has taken giant strides in reducing energy use over the past 10 years. It is the first school in Edinburgh to install a wind turbine, and the first Scottish school to win an Ashden Award, it also has a solar thermal system, and pupils enjoy cross-curricular learning on sustainable energy. Sustainable energy issues are core to the schools day-to-day practice: pupils have patrolled the classrooms, switching off lights and appliances; use energy monitors to track energy use; and make pledges to save energy at home. Their Energy Group has reduced lighting wastage alone by 5%. 2,000 lights have been upgraded to low-energy designs; windows have been sealed and doors replaced to reduce heat loss, and the boiler is switched off for several months of the year. Solar thermal panels heat the school swimming pool.
To find wout more about the Ashden Awards and the successful schools go to http://www.ashdenawards.org/UK_schools |
