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Schools switch to ‘green’ lights
Posted on 08/12/2009
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Two Leicestershire schools are helping to ‘do their bit’ for the environment by converting their lights to energy-efficient fluorescent tubes.
The Robert Smyth School in Market Harborough and Westfield Junior School in Hinckley are the first two schools to embark on Leicestershire County Council’s Energy Efficient Lighting programme.
The programme helps schools manage the cost of changing the lights as well as replacing the bulbs.
As a result of converting their lights, the carbon emission reduction from the two schools is expected to be around 73 tonnes a year. This is roughly the equivalent to the yearly carbon emissions of eight people, or the carbon footprint of someone flying from London to Sydney 26 times!
Additionally, the cost savings to the schools’ energy bills from using the low-energy bulbs are anticipated to top £13,500 a year.
Professor Mike Preston, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Action, said: “Leicestershire County Council is taking steps to reduce its carbon emissions in line with that of the central government.
“Our operations currently make up four percent of the total carbon emissions from the county and our extensive Carbon Management plan intends to reduce this by 30 per cent over the next five years.
“This is why it is vital for each of our establishments to take action now, so we can provide a greener future.”
For more information on the County Council’s Carbon Management plan, visit: www.leics.gov.uk/carbon_management_plan.pdf
Notes to editors
The project costs for the conversion were around £56,000 over the two schools, which will be paid back over a four year period via a joint loan from the County Council Energy Efficiency programme and the Carbon Trust
Loans are paid back at a rate of 75% of the expected savings each year until the loan is repaid.
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/carbon/PublicSector/public-sector-loans.htm?gclid=CL6mgsStkp4CFVVu4wodzRkRpg
For information on carbon emissions and flights, visit:
http://www.carbonplanet.com/shop/flight_emissions_calculator
The average carbon emission per capita, per year in Leicestershire is 8.9 tonnes.
Source of the data: Department of Energy and Climate Change, Statistic about Climate Change, Revisions of Local Authority Carbon dioxide emissions estimate 2005 – 2007.
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/climate_change/climate_change.aspx?format=contrast