Free Solar Panels for Schools from British Gas
British Gas is offering 750 schools in the UK to install solar panels up to the value of £40,000 for free which should enable each school to save 20% in electricity costs.
The new £15 million investment is a first in the UK and each school that qualifies for the scheme will also receive a free British Gas smart meter so they are able to monitor and analyse where they use electricity through the day and night and be able to make changes in how energy is consumed (eg: to see if computers are left on during the night time period). Each school will also get access to a special website where they can share tips and advice with each other.
Generation green from British Gas
The new scheme called generation green also enables schools and teachers to learn more about helping the environment and rewards schools for so called “green actions” where they can also win additional prizes including energy efficient light bulbs.
If you want to be part of the scheme you simply need to register your interest at the generation green website and parents, pupils and teachers can nominate their school. The scheme is for the current academic year through to 2011.
It is anticipated that the scheme could save around £1.3 million in electricity over the next 25 years and in addition these will qualify for the new feed in tariffs. These tariffs pay homes and businesses including schools an amount for each unit of electricity produced from renewable energy sources as well as any unused electricity which can be sold back to the national grid for others to use.
A spokesperson for British Gas Katie Alloway said: “A school is the hub of a community, used by so many people, so the opportunity to have a solar panel and showcase that technology will really help them to understand more about the technology and how they can cut energy use and save money.”
British Gas also said that at least half of the investment programmes will be aimed towards schools in low income areas and that the scheme is to work in conjunction with the Government’s community energy saving programme (CESP). It is estimated that the generation green energy programme will save around 1,400 tonnes per year in reducing carbon emissions as well. So well done for British Gas for this free offer of solar panels for the UK’ schools.
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