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MP urges schools to join Government campaign to save money and reduce carbon footprint
Schools are being offered a free, smart “energy display meter” allowing staff to monitor energy use. This will help school communities reduce their carbon footprint immediately, while teaching students about climate change and energy efficiency.
The meters could also help schools cut their energy bills by up to £3,000 a year.
Dan said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to make a difference to climate change, while saving money and gathering data which can be used by students in their learning. And it could make a huge difference as schools in England contribute around 15 per cent of the country’s public sector emission – roughly the same as all the energy and transport emissions of Birmingham and Manchester combined.”
Schools which register will have a digital sub-meter and data logger installed. The meter will be connected to the existing main electrical distribution board of each school and will measure the school’s electrical power consumption. Information can then be relayed to up to five networked PCs which can be used as a tool for learning.
Research by the Carbon Trust shows that smart meters and behavioural changes in using energy could see 10 to 15 per cent cuts in fuel bills. This means the average one-form primary school could save up to £700 a year and the average 900-pupil secondary school more than £3,000 a year on fuel bills alone, potentially releasing millions of pounds across the entire schools system.
The smart meter scheme is just the start of the Government’s plan to get schools to be more environmentally friendly. More support and advice will be provided to Headteachers over the coming months.
Dan said: “These students will be our environmental champions of the future and we have a moral responsibility to help them take greater care of this world. With the Government’s help, schools will become greener both in their design and in their behaviour.”
Schools Secretary Ed Balls added: ”Our £12 million investment programme encouraging schools across England to get a free energy display meter installed will give schools real-time digital information about their energy use and help children learn about climate change.“ Local schools can register for their free meter here
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North
East Somerset MP Dan Norris is calling on Headteachers in his patch to
take part in a Government initiative to combat climate change.