OKEHAMPTON College is going green with a pioneering new energy saving project.

The college has secured £50,000 for renewable energy technology which will be used to install 48 solar panels on the roof of its sports hall and set a shining example for the whole community.

Science teacher Kevin Webber, who is one of the staff managing the project, said: 'We were delighted to have all the funding in place so the project could go ahead.

'Although the solar panels will be great, our college consumes a lot more electricity than the solar panels can generate, so I hope this system will highlight the amount of electricity we could save if we switched off lights and other equipment when we don't need it.'

Mr Webber said young people were tuned into the green agenda.

'This project will help us engage the whole community in the environmental agenda.

'We aim to be the first community in the country where a secondary school and all its feeder primary schools have installed renewable energy technology. We have already visited our eleven feeder primary schools with consultants to move this agenda forward.'

New equipment has been installed on the south-facing roof of the college, producing electricity to power lights, computers and other equipment. During times of low demand, any surplus electricity will be sold back to the electricity grid.

The 10K panels will save almost three and a half tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, reducing annual energy costs by an estimated £1,500.

Plasma screens in the school will reveal live data and show how much electricity the school uses, how much electricity the solar panels generate and how much carbon dioxide they have saved.

Finance for the scheme came from a £20,000 grant from EDF Energy's Green Fund, £25,000 from the Government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme, Funding from Dartmoor National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund and school fundraising, and the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund's contribution of £8,000.

EDF Energy's director of sustainable future Peter Hofman said: 'Young people are really keen to learn about climate change and we are uniquely placed to help them. Investing in renewable energy for schools is one way we can help change future thinking and behaviour around energy generation, use and efficiency.'

Dartmoor National Park Authority's director of planning and sustainable development Chris France said: 'This is one of a number of renewable energy projects the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund has helped at a community level and this has added educational benefits, both within the college itself and the wider north Dartmoor school community and feeder primary schools.

'A condition of the grant was that appropriate interpretation includes monitoring data on the amount of electricity generated and the annual costs saved.'

The college plans further to reduce its carbon footprint by installing more renewable energy technology, to host seminars on energy efficiency measures at the school and to help others who are considering installing renewable energy technology.

Anyone who would like to register for a seminar can phone Mr Webber on 01837 650910 or email [email protected]">[email protected]