Councillors have confirmed their support for the next stage of the Schools Low Carbon Heating Programme, which has already supported more than 70 Cambridgeshire schools since its launch in 2014.
At a meeting of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People committee today (Tuesday 9 September), councillors heard how the programme has delivered a wide range of energy-saving upgrades, such as ground and air source heat pumps, solar panels, LED lighting, improved energy management systems and better insulation.
To date, the programme has supported both maintained and academy schools across Cambridgeshire to:
- Save an estimated 11,000 tonnes of CO₂e
- Approach an estimated £1 million in energy bill savings.
Current projects are underway at Townley Primary School in Wisbech, Huntingdon Nursery School and Dry Drayton Primary School, with more schools set to follow including Clarkson Infant School in Wisbech, Huntingdon Primary School and Samuel Pepys School in St Neots.
The work is made possible through a combination of funding streams, including the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the council’s own contributions, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and investment from the schools themselves.
The programme is a key part of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Climate Change and Environment Strategy, supporting the ambition to reach Net Zero carbon by 2045.
Cllr Edna Murphy, Chair of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “I’m so pleased that this programme is able to continue going from strength to strength.
“Reducing carbon emissions helps to cut costs for schools, which also significantly improves learning environments for our children. Rising energy bills are such a huge challenge for schools, and investing in low carbon technology means more money can go towards teaching and resources.
“I also find it inspiring that projects like these give pupils a chance to see sustainability in action, for example heat pumps in the playground and solar panels on roofs, and I very much look forward to us continuing to build on this success for years to come, to help future generations.”
More information is available on the Council’s website: Schools Energy Retrofit Programme | Cambridgeshire County Council
