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Get collecting to win your school a great green prize

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Attention, eco-warriors – today sees the launch of our amazing Generation Green £135,000 giveaway for a school.

British Gas wants readers to decide which school in Leicestershire or Rutland gets to spend the cash, which can be used for improvements such as wind turbines, solar panels or environmentally-friendly lighting and heating.

We are printing voting tokens in the paper every day until December 1.

Pupils, teachers and parents should collect and send in as many tokens as they can to vote for their school.

The school with the most votes will receive £135,000 to spend on carbon-reducing technology, to cut its energy bills, plus a free consultation with British Gas on how to spend the money.

At Highcliffe Primary School, in Greengate Lane, Birstall, using a woodchip burner has helped the school cut its energy costs.

Head teacher Pauline Aveling said: "The wood burner costs half as much in fuel as an oil burner and the wood we use is all from environmentally friendly sources, so it's a very good thing.

"But there's so much more we could do.

"We have a 1950s building with no insulation at all in some parts and the school windows are single-glazed.

"It would be nice to be involved in wind or solar schemes so children could learn about it.

"Winning the £135,000 would save the school a lot on energy but, importantly, it would help the children learn about science, weather, maths, ICT and teach them to be more environmentally-friendly at home." Andrew Bacon, British Gas regional director for the East Midlands, said teaching children was a major part of what Generation Green was aiming to do. He said: "We want children at the winning school to experience the change the investment brings to their school.

"Once the measures are installed, we will provide schools with all the data to use in lessons and the pupils will be able to use energy meters and understand the difference changing just one light bulb can make.

"Hopefully, they can also take that knowledge home to their families."

The Generation Green scheme in Leicestershire and Rutland is one of several being rolled out around the country.

Mr Bacon said pouring a large amount of money into a few schools was preferable to paying for small improvements to a large number, because the education impact would be greater.

He said: "We have decided to really focus our investment to help children experience the whole process of an entire school going on this energy-efficiency journey.

"It is a significant investment and a great opportunity for teachers, parents and children to get involved and learn about the low-carbon industry."


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