26 April 2012 Green academy goes for gold Selwood Academy has been announced as a finalist in one of the world's leading green energy awards The secondary school, in Berkley Road, Frome, is halfway through a ten-year plan to improve sustainability, with key steps including boiler upgrades, new windows, better metering and changing behaviour to save energy.
After installing an energy monitor at school and explaining it to the pupils, more than 40 youngsters have now also persuaded their parents to install them.
The school has been shortlisted in the Ashden Awards, which was set up in 2001 to champion practical, local energy solutions that cut carbon, protect the environment, reduce poverty and improve people's lives.
Since then it has rewarded and supported more than 140 winners across the UK and the developing world.
Selwood Academy is among eight pioneering initiatives across the UK demonstrating that investing in energy efficiency and switching to sustainable energy can help save carbon, transform lives and boost economies. They are reducing fuel bills in homes, schools and hospitals, bringing together communities, creating green jobs and helping home-owners and local authorities prepare for the government's upcoming Green Deal.
Selwood Academy headteacher Stephen Kirby said he was delighted with the news.
"I am extremely proud of the fact that Selwood Academy was among the eight finalists for the prestigious Ashden award," he said. "This is testament to the hard work of staff and pupils who take sustainability seriously and have implemented numerous creative ideas, with many others planned for the future."
Sarah Butler-Sloss, founder director of Ashden, said the school should be applauded for its work.
She said: "We applaud Selwood Academy for its range of behaviour change, energy monitoring and efficiency measures that have been implemented across the school and for encouraging children and their families to save energy in their own homes too."
Five UK winners will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony on May 30, with one to be selected to win a coveted Gold Award.
Prizes of £10,000 each will be offered, with the Gold Award winner doubling their prize to £20,000 to help expand their work. For the full news article and to be taken to the website, click here |