The Drax Foundation has committed £1.5 million to help schools install energy-efficient LED lights and solar panels, and deliver energy saving monitoring and education.

The firm, which owns Drax Power Station near Selby, established the Drax Foundation to provide grant funding to non-profit organisations in the regions where it operates.

The installation of energy-efficient LED lighting initiative is currently being piloted at the following five schools local to Drax’s operations in England:
• Barwic Parade Community Primary School in Selby
• Kirk Sandall Junior School in Doncaster
• Selby Abbey Primary School
• Triangle Primary School in Sowerby Bridge
• Great Clacton Junior School in Clacton-on-Sea

It is estimated that these schools will save on average £8,600 per year from reduced energy bills, which can then be reinvested back into the school.

The full rollout of the LED lighting and solar panel schemes and energy saving and education programme is planned for later this year, with a focus on rural communities and areas of low social mobility, particularly in and around the communities where Drax operates.

Will Gardiner, CEO Drax Group, said: “The Drax Foundation is committed to giving back to the communities where we operate, and the new initiative will provide schools with practical, tangible ways to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. It’s important that children start thinking about these issues from a young age as energy usage and its impact is set to become an increasingly relevant topic in their future.”

Kathy Thompson, executive headteacher at Kirk Sandall Junior School, said: “It’s so important that businesses support their communities and this initiative by the Drax Foundation is a really great way to help us save money, especially at the moment when energy costs and prices in general are so high. It also teaches pupils about the impact we have on our environment and how we can act responsibly to save energy.”

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