Low carbon work has helped a Denbigh primary school become more energy efficient.

The Council's Energy Team has helped Ysgol Twm o’r Nant improve energy efficiency and lower long term costs following low carbon work at the school building.

The team has managed projects across Council owned buildings including a number of schools, to help improve building energy efficiency, reduce emissions and also usage costs over the longer term.

The Council’s Energy team assessed the building to help focus on what areas of energy use could be improved by introducing new technology on site.

This included the installation of a (14.94KW) solar panel system on the school roof. Each Kilowatt generated and used by Ysgol Twm o’r Nant will save around 22pence. This capacity not only reduces substantial carbon emissions it also reduces strain on the local grid infrastructure.

Storage batteries were also installed alongside the solar panel system to help the school harness excess energy generated by the panels to use on site.

LED lighting was installed inside the school building to also help improve energy efficiency and drive down usage costs.

This work is estimated to save annually around 13664kWh, over 5.6tonnes of carbon emissions and over £5,997.00 per annum in reduced energy costs, paying back what has been invested in a short space of time.

Martyn Smith, Property Energy and Carbon Manager, said: “It’s been great to bring together various pieces of energy technology to help bring down the school’s usage, carbon emissions and long-term costs. This will also help improve the building environment for both the pupils and staff.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, added “The Council is committed to reducing our own buildings carbon emissions and we thank the Energy Team for their continued proactive work and the support from pupils and staff at Ysgol Twm o’r Nant for allowing this project to be completed.”

Prestatyn High pupils have helped extend a helping hand for nature on the school grounds.

Pupils recently joined with the Council’s Biodiversity Team and Countryside Rangers to help extend existing hedgerow at the site to provide stronger support for local nature.

Work has continued across county schools in the last 12 months to help increase biodiversity and tree canopies across school grounds for supporting nature’s recovery and to provide an educational wellbeing outdoor area for youngsters. This work has been funded from a UK Government grant.

By planting trees at school grounds, it also helps to support the Council’s drive to reach net carbon zero by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

Pupils helped fill in the gaps of existing 110 metres of hedgerows by planting 16 standard trees and supported the development of a new 60 metre area of hedgerow.

They also helped with the planting of 19 large trees to create a woodland area on the backfield and also 16 fruit trees.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful to Prestatyn High School for their brilliant support in helping our Biodiversity Team create extend help on the grounds for local nature to enjoy and also for providing better outdoor wellbeing and learning for all the youngsters involved.”

A new woodland area is taking root at a Rhyl secondary school.

Christ the Word pupils recently rolled up their sleeves to help create a new haven for nature on their school grounds.

Pupils recently helped the Council’s Biodiversity Team and Countryside Rangers develop new hedgerow and woodland areas at the school.

Planting has taken place across county schools to help increase biodiversity and tree canopies across school grounds to support nature’s recovery and provide an educational wellbeing outdoor area for youngsters. This work has been funded from a UK Government grant.

Increasing the number of trees on school grounds also helps support the Council’s drive to reach net carbon zero by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

Pupils helped create a 260-metre-long hedgerow, included 14 standard trees within it, consisting of rowans, Field Maple, Cherry Plum, Wayfaring Tree, Wild Cherry, and Bird Cherry

The forest school area Christ the Word Pupils also helped plant is an oak, alder and willow mix of trees. The total area of planting achieved by the pupils with the Biodiversity Team and rangers is 400 square metres.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful to the Christ the Word pupils for their fantastic support in helping our Biodiversity Team and the rangers create this new area on the grounds for local nature to enjoy and also for providing better outdoor wellbeing and learning for all the youngsters at the school.”