Barnes Primary Goes Solar

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10:10 invites other schools to tackle energy bills and climate change together

With energy prices on the rise again, 10:10’s Solar Schools campaign is urging schools in London to take control of their energy costs by installing solar panels.

Solar Schools helps schools throughout the UK fundraise to buy solar PV and generate their own electricity, and wants to recruit more London schools to join its successful campaign. Supporters such as London mum and Mumsnet CEO Justine Roberts, London Sustainable Development Commissioner Ed Gillespie and former Schools Commissioner for London Sir Tim Brighouse are calling on local schools to help create a trailblazing solar revolution across the capital.

Justine Roberts, CEO of Mumsnet said:"We can all do something positive for our local school and the planet - encourage them to get on board with Solar Schools. They make it easy and fun for schools to install solar panels so they cut carbon, save money on energy bills, and earn extra cash for school projects."

Barnes Primary School was one of the first to join Solar Schools in 2012, installing a 5kWp solar array in April 2013, just in time to make full use of the best summer we have had for years.

The school took just 14 weeks to raise the £10,000 cost of the installation, with one of the highlights a sleepover at the school for 124 children which raised £3,000 in one night! Educational benefits included learning about the power of a very visual, web-based fundraising approach as well as raising awareness of climate change among both parents and pupils.

Sue Jepson, Deputy Headteacher, Barnes Primary School, said: "With energy prices continuing to rise, it's great that we can work together to do something positive about it and harness a free resource like sunshine. Solar Schools is all about empowerment and enabling schools to make choices, and working with 10:10 gave us the support we needed to do that. It was also a great way to enrich the curriculum. I'd love to see more London schools getting involved!”

Ed Gillespie, London Sustainable Development Commissioner, said: “I love 10:10's Solar Schools project because it's about so more than just putting solar panels on roofs – the community crowdfunding approach helps people come together and do it for themselves. Schools are the heart and soul of our communities and it’s fantastic to see thousands of families and businesses helping their local school go green. This project will be many people's first real experience of the clean energy revolution that's underway, and I can't imagine a more exciting place to start.”

Find out how your school can join the solar revolution by visiting www.solarschools.org.uk

October 22, 2013