Schools Go Green with £2m Investment to Reduce Environmental Impact

4th June 2021 – Tags: Sustainability

Major improvements have taken place across our family of schools in an ongoing commitment to reducing environmental impact and creating a more sustainable future.

Just over £2m has been invested at Cheslyn Hay Academy, Goldsmith Primary Academy, Great Wyrley Academy, Kingswinford Academy, Manor Way Primary Academy, Tenterfields Primary Academy and Windsor High School and Sixth Form as part of a successful bid by Windsor Academy Trust to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. 

The scheme is a government grant for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. Almost £60m was allocated to public sector organisations across the West Midlands through the scheme, with £6m awarded to schools. 

The work at the schools included installing solar panels with the ability to generate 600,000 kWhrs of electricity per year, fitting LED lighting, installing double glazed windows, improving insulation and upgrading mechanical infrastructures, energy management and monitoring systems. These improvements reduce the reliance on non-renewable energy sources and significantly improve energy efficiencies.  

Windsor Academy Trust staff worked alongside technical advisors, Barker Associates and contractors Advanced Renewable Power Ltd, Amber Windows, Midland HVAC, Energys Group and EO Consulting to successfully deliver the major capital projects. 

The work will have a significant environmental impact, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 257 tonnes every year - the equivalent to powering 31 homes for one year.

Windsor Academy Trust is committed to a more sustainable future and leaving the world in a better place for future generations, aiming to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Sustainability and global current affairs are part of the curriculum and this work builds on numerous existing sustainability initiatives, including Eco-Schools awards, active Forest School programmes and the reduction in the use of single-use plastic.

Keith Sorrell, Chief Executive Officer at Windsor Academy Trust, said:

“We are committed to reducing our environmental impact, and this work will go a significant way in helping us achieve our target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. 

 

The environment and sustainability are extremely important to our children and communities, and I am delighted that we have been able to invest in these improvements thanks to the hard work of our staff and partners.

 

I am proud of the work that has and continues to take place across the Trust to leave the world in a better place for future generations”.

Sinead Desmond, programme manager at Salix, said:

"We’re delighted to see Windsor Academy Trust implementing so many carbon reduction measures and we’re pleased to have been able to support them with the delivery of multiple energy-saving technologies. The school is another great example of how public sector organisations across the UK are leading the way to a sustainable future."