Schools Switch on Co-operative Solar Panels

Beaming…The Co-operative’s Sunny Solar joins pupils at Ocklynge Junior School in Eastbourne, from left, Eden Franklin-Lester, Ryan Turner, Billy Barnard, Mirren McCreadie, Clement Mercer and Khevane Byroo, to help officially switch on their solar panels.

Schools across the country are becoming leading lights on the issue of green energy as The Co-operative’s colourful climate change character Sunny Solar helps them officially switch on their free solar panels.

The 100 schools selected for The Co-operative Group’s £1m Green Energy for Schools scheme will each receive rooftop solar panels worth £20,000. The panels are half funded by the Group with match-funding from the Government’s Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP).

Schools were nominated for the project by Co-operative staff and members and leading energy company Solarcentury, who are erecting the panels, then assessing the suitability of their premises.

Co-operative members and staff, joined by Sunny Solar, have visited a dozen schools so far to officially switch on the panels.

Each school’s set of 24 photovoltaic panels should generate around 3,300 kWh of electricity a year – enough to make 180,000 cups of tea for thirsty teachers – saving around two tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Green energy boost...Sunny Solar helps 10-year-old Hope Rogers switch on the solar panels at St Laurence Primary School in Long Eaton.

Pupils can keep track of how much renewable energy the panels are generating and the amount of carbon dioxide they have saved to date by checking a monitor in the school building.

Simon Williams, The Co-operative’s Director of Social Goals, said: “As a community retailer with a long track record in using renewable energy, it is appropriate that we are now drawing on our own expertise and funding to help these schools cut their carbon dioxide emissions."

“By switching on their Co-operative solar panels, these schools are teaching the next generation about climate change, while setting an excellent example to other schools, businesses and homes in their communities.”

Pupils and teachers have given a warm welcome to their new solar panels.

Esther Halford, aged seven, a pupil at St Laurence Primary School in Long Eaton, said: “I like them because they help us save energy and that will help save the world.”

Dave Boston, headteacher at Sir Thomas Boughey High School in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a specialist business and enterprise college sponsored by The Co-operative, said: “We are very proud to be chosen by The Co-operative for this important initiative."

“We are already working hard to reduce the school’s carbon footprint with a raft of green initiatives and switching on these rooftop solar panels will instantly boost our efforts while sending out a strong message about our commitment to helping the environment.”