WORK to lower carbon across Denbighshire schools has featured at a national conference.

Denbighshire County Council’s Energy Team took the stage at the Journey to a Net Zero Wales 2024 event at Venue Cymru on May 29.

The event brought together speakers from a wide range of sectors to share their ideas, visions, and breakthroughs to build a network of learning on the road to net zero.

The team was invited to speak at the event regarding the work they have done across schools in the county to improve energy efficiency, lower carbon emissions and reduce long-term running costs.

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Work carried out by the team at more than 30 schools so far is part of the council’s drive to address the climate and nature emergency declared in 2019 and reduce its own carbon footprint.

On-site work at the schools has included the introduction of air source heat pumps, PV solar panels on building roofs, installation of LED lighting, improved heating controls upgraded heating systems and energy related behaviour change through engagement with site staff and also lessons on energy efficiency for the pupils.

Heatpumps are now operational at Ysgol Betws Gwerfil Goch, Ysgol Tir Morfa and Ysgol Brynhyfryd.

These can turn one kilowatt of electricity into three kilowatts of heat.

LED lighting installed has reduced energy loads by at least 50 per cent and the team has also worked to add loft and wall insulation as well as draught proofing where appropriate to further save utility costs.

These sites have also had solar PV, LED lighting, modified heating controls and battery storage to minimise export of surplus solar PV generation.

The total schools project cumulative cost savings achieved have been about £300,000, which is directly saved by the school as they don’t have to pay for the energy.

Work has also reduced carbon emissions from each site which, in total at the completed schools, save 533 tonnes.

Energy project officer, Martyn Smith, said: “We are really grateful to have been given the opportunity at this event to talk through the work staff from the energy team have carried out through our school projects.

“All the schools we have worked with have been fantastic with support for the team’s ideas and have helped us pinpoint the best solutions to install to bring down their energy use and costs as well.

“Working these projects has helped the team adapt ways and planning to help reach the best reduction in carbon also for each school building we work on and this groundwork has become really useful for how we approach every new project n the future. “