West Bridgford school set for wind power
THE dreams of a determined West Bridgford school council look set to become reality as plans to build a wind turbine at the school are expected to be agreed today.
"It was an off-hand comment at first, just a joke but it turned into something serious," said Jonathan Bowes, 15, chairman of The West Bridgford School council.
As part of their plan to get the school Green Flag status, the pupil-run student council brought in new green policies, and started a campaign for a wind turbine.
The 15m tall wind turbine will be used to generate electricity for the school, and will also be an educational tool for pupils.
Rushcliffe Borough Council development control committee was expected to grant planning permission today.
The £25,000 project will be funded by ScottishPower and the Government's Low Carbon Buildings Grant Programme. The latter will give a £450 annual grant.
Pupils themselves raised £1,500 by being sponsored to wear something green to school .
Jonathan said: "It's fantastic. I think everybody was quite shocked that something this big was going to happen.
"We had big support from our geography teacher Mr Flemming with this, like getting energy saving light bulbs and getting recycling bins.
"But it has been driven by the students."
The wind turbine will be built 30m west from the school buildings between the two tennis courts. And it will be more than 100m away from all neighbours.
Head teacher Rob McDonough said: "This is entirely the student council – it's something they wanted to do.
"I think as school leaders and governors we're quite taken aback by how we've been outmanoeuvered by the school council!
"I applaud them for their ingenuity here and their determination to see the project through. Green issues are very important to them."
They hope to start building the wind turbine in the new year.
The school has already achieved a bronze award in the Eco-Schools international award programme, which guides schools to sustainability.
And they are now striving for the silver award, where they will only be one step away from the prestigious Green Flag award.
The wind turbine will provide 5,340 kilowatt hours per year, which will save the school more than £300 annually. It will save about 2,260kg/annum and 56 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
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by Mr B J Mann, Nottingham
Thursday, January 01 2009, 7:55PM
“So, yes, "The wind turbine will also serve as a symbol, a reminder for people to consider the effort they are making to protect our planet."
Lets hope most of them put more consideration into it than Aidan and X!”
by Mr B J Mann, Nottingham
Thursday, January 01 2009, 7:52PM
“Errrmmmm, but what do you think the £25,000 is paying for?
Planting trees?
It's to buy fuel to make the equipment.
And to buy materials to make the equipment from.
Which effectively is the cost of the fuel to mine, smelt and transport the materials.
Of course, not all of the cost is to mine, smelt and transport the materials.
Some of it is the cost o the equipment to mine, smelt and transport the materials.
But of course, the cost of that is effectively the cost of the fuel to make the equipment to mine, smelt and transport the materials.
Etc, etc, etc.
So how much of the £25,000 is spent on fuel?
Less than the £300?
Or much, much, much, much, much, much *MORE* !”
by X, west bridgford
Thursday, January 01 2009, 6:58PM
“The point of getting a wind turbine is not to save money, it is to help reduce the impact the school has on the environment. That we will save £300 obviously is only a small difference, but it is just an added added bonus, not the point of the whole thing. The wind turbine will also serve as a symbol, a reminder for people to consider the effort they are making to protect our planet. It is our generation that will potentially suffer, not yours. What are you doing about it?”
by William Fotherington-Thomas, The Park
Monday, December 22 2008, 7:54PM
“What a disgrace. The school is already on mains electricy, which means they are wasting £25,000 worth of materials and energy to recoup a pathetic £300 worth per year. But wait, it's worse, because the £300 they recoup, is really only £100 worth of energy at the standard rate of electricity which was used to manufacture and commission the ornament, the other £200 worth is in lieu of EU fines for not meeting renewable targets. It's a scam and a sham and it's at a school near you.”
by Aidan, West Bridgford
Monday, December 22 2008, 3:56PM
“Good on the children for taking positive steps towards their protecting their environment. With the grants in place it is not nearly as uneconomic as the above suggest.”