Zero carbon initiative gives school £1m boost

May 4 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

A NORTHUMBERLAND school is set for a £1m investment after being selected to take part in a cutting-edge environmental project.

Haydon Bridge High School and local education authority Northumberland County Council have been chosen as one of only a handful of Zero Carbon Exemplar Projects nationwide.

The scheme is part of a government initiative to increase understanding of energy use in school buildings, and help towards the Government’s ambition of delivering zero carbon sites by 2016.

The project will see £1m spent at the school, with a new £450,000 eco-centre and investment in the existing building to reduce its carbon footprint and make the site carbon neutral.

The school’s bid for zero carbon status was proposed by sixth form students and prepared with their input.

Year 12s had worked on a feasibility study for an eco-centre that would incorporate renewable technology.

The centre will be based on their ideas and entail a learning space which will act as the base for the school’s land-based courses.

School headteacher John Dowler added: “Everyone is delighted that the school has been successful with the Zero Carbon bid. Given our location and existing involvement in the environmental curriculum, we are a natural candidate for the project.

“Over recent years students across the school have been playing a leading part in helping us to use energy more efficiently.

“We are now monitoring our carbon footprint on a regular basis.”