Barclaycard Breathe supports Solar4Schools to provide free solar power
Solar4Schools is to benefit from profit donations from Barclaycard Breathe, a new credit card to help consumers play their part in the fight against climate change. We have been selected as one of the first organisations to benefit from a donation from Barclaycard Breathe. Currently the scheme is part funded by the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Low Carbon Buildings Programme, providing £10,000 towards a £20,000 system. Barclaycard Breathe will help to make solar energy free by providing the additional £10,000 needed for five schools. 50% of profits from Barclaycard Breathe will go towards carbon reduction projects across the world, with a guaranteed £1m donation in the first year.
Amer Sajed, Managing Director of Barclaycard UK said: “We recognise there is a growing demand for products that promote greener spending and which help to tackle climate change. The donation of 50 percent of profits from Barclaycard Breathe will help ensure five schools get access to solar power free of charge.”
Schools will be able to enter a draw for the inclusion in the project via www.solar4schools.co.uk or \n solarschools@solarcentury.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Following their application, schools will be checked for their suitability, including roof size and energy efficiency. Those schools already eligible for solar power from Solar4Schools will be automatically entered into the draw. The closing date for entries is July 22nd 2007, with the draw for winning schools on July 30th.
“We are delighted with this new impetus for the Solar4Schools programme,” explains Jeremy Leggett, CEO of Solarcentury, “We have already had hundreds of enquiries for the funding available, however, the new support from Barclaycard Breathe will ensure that more schools are able to meet the fund requirements more quickly. Access to this silent, clean, sustainable energy is easy, meanwhile it is a crucial vehicle for educating young people on the benefits of solar PV-generated electricity.”
Fulston Manor School is one example of a school that was eligible for the Solar4Schools funding. The school had its solar PV system installed on the roof of the sports hall, with a monitoring device in the entrance to the school.
Headmaster of Fulston Manor School, Alan Brookes, explains the simplicity of the scheme: “This really is such an easy route to reducing the cost of electricity and therefore carbon emissions,” he said. “Our installation of 26 solar PV modules is located on the flat roof of the sports hall, while the monitor is clearly in view in the entrance area of the school. Having applied for Solar4Schools funding, Solarcentury made sure the site was viable for solar PV using our photographs, building plans and coming to visit us, then came and installed the panels. The system was up and working straight away.”
Barclaycard Breathe will also offer cardholders a range of incentives, offered through retail partners to promote lower carbon spending such as public transport travel discounts, reductions on green energy tariffs and home insulation. Barclaycard Breathe will donate half of its profits to PURE, the Clean Planet Trust, which was launched in 2006 by Climate Change and Environment Minster Ian Pearson MP. PURE is a UK based charity (no. 1112249) dedicated to fighting climate change through carbon offsetting and reduction and will select the projects to be supported by the profit donations.
