Bideford College in Devon has been given £21,150 to kick-start its eco-friendly makeover in a bid to become carbon neutral in the next two years.

The school, which received the bumper grant from ScottishPower's Green Energy Trust, is dedicated to lowering its energy consumption and is embarking on a £45m project to transform its buildings.

The grant from the Green Energy Trust was used to install an array of solar panels to the science block, producing 12KW of renewable energy.

The building will be the only original one left standing after the regeneration work on the school is finished. It will be transformed into a bespoke 6th form centre and changing rooms for the external sports facilities, powered in part by the solar panels which have been installed.

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Students have been involved with the design process for the renovation and their hard work, along with that of all the Project Team, has recently been recognised by an Excellence in Design for Sustainability awarded through the national Building Schools for the Future program.

Alison McKean, Head of Environment at ScottishPower Energy Retail, said: "ScottishPower's Green Energy Trust was delighted to be able to help launch this project which will see the College transform into a super energy efficient place for its pupils for years to come.

"This is a really great example of how to get young people involved in energy matters and the enthusiasm shown by the students here demonstrates how important this subject is to them."

Throughout the two year transformation the College will also install a woodchip Biomass boiler to provide all its heating and hot water along with wind turbines and look for more ways to lower their energy consumption through actual building design and orientation.

Mike Newby MBE, New College Coordinator for the redevelopment project, is very grateful for the input from the Green Energy Trust and with ScottishPower's involvement.

He said: "We are a large school with around 1700 pupils, and the challenge to become carbon neutral in 2 years is very ambitious, but we believe we can do it. As a College we have recently been awarded "Green Flag" status by the EcoSchools organisation which is yet another way in which the whole College is now involved in our drive to a truly sustainable facility."

(GK/JM)