AN ECO-FRIENDLY primary school looks set to save £80,000 on energy costs over the next 20 years thanks to solar panels on its roof.

Tow Law Millennium Primary School in County Durham has already reduced its electricity bill by almost £2,000 since the 120 panels were installed 18 months ago.

The school has also reduced its carbon footprint by 22.4 tonnes, with 53 per cent of its total energy needs now supplied by solar panels.

Headteacher Lisa Jackson and school governors, Steve Peat and Councillor John Hart, are thrilled with the savings, and the important environmental message the panels are sending out to the children.

Mr Peat said: “Educating children about environmental issues is becoming more and more important. You cannot turn on the television without being made of aware of climate change and the natural disasters it causes.”

Cllr Hart added: “Tow Law has a history of producing energy, first coal, then windfarms and now solar panels. This is very much about looking for new, clean ways to provide power, and that is an important message to get out.”

The school received the panels through the Engynious Solar for Schools Programme. As the long term investor, Engynious maintains the panels and sells the clean renewable power they produce back to the school at a reduced rate.

Ms Jackson said: “It is fantastic that we have achieved these savings but now we plan to look at the efficiency of the building to make more savings and further reduce our carbon footprint. The plan is to appoint ‘green police’ in the school who can remind staff to turn off lights and recycle etc.”

Mr Peat said: “Making people more aware through campaigns can lead to savings of 10 per cent a year. We need to keep looking for new ways to boost awareness, and that is what we hope to achieve with the green police. There will be a few children from each year group to police the situation and make sure the grown-ups are doing what they are supposed to do.”