REPRESENTATIVES from Okehampton College have been sharing information about the college's amazing work in energy efficiency at the launch of a new organisation which aims to 'deliver local energy for economic benefit' in the area.

The South West Devon Community Energy Partnership (SWD CEP) is a partnership representing local authorities and communities in the West Devon, South Hams and Dartmoor National Park areas.

At its recent launch event, the SWD CEP welcomed delegates from across the county who came to hear presentations from the leading lights on energy issues in the South West, and discuss how to localise energy for economic benefit.

Representatives from the college attended to give a talk on how the school has managed to reduce its energy consumption by 50%, and how their amazing work into energy efficiency earned them the prestigious Zayed Future Energy Prize.

The award recognises and rewards innovation, impact, leadership and long-term vision in renewable energy and sustainability.

Over the last four years the college has installed a number of energy saving measures to increase energy efficiency. The result has not only been saving around £60,000 a year on energy bills which can be spent on the curriculum, but the facilities are used for educational purposes, and the school is being used as example of good practice.

Among the innovative schemes in place at the school are a building management system used to control heating, 3,000 low energy lights throughout the school, and 80 kilowatts of solar PV panels.

Impressive savings have also been made by installing energy meters and dials to fine-tune the school's energy use.

The focus of the SWD CEP launch was 'Energy and the Local Economy', and how to develop financial resilience through energy reduction and local production.

Kate Royston, the chair of SWD CEP, said: 'The event has been a great success. The delegates were all interested and actively participated throughout the day.

'We are now looking forward to the release of our area wide Strategic Energy Study from the University of Exeter; and a follow on event later in the year building on the achievements of our launch.'

The SWD CEP is developing a number of initiatives across the area including community training, energy assessments, events and impartial advice on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transport.