Pupils from Greenhill Primary, Gelligaer lead green challenge (From Campaign Series)

Pupils from Greenhill Primary, Gelligaer lead green challenge

12:20pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

IT IS Climate Week and a Caerphilly primary once dubbed “the greenest school in the UK” is helping inspire local people to live a more environmentallyfriendly lifestyle.

The week of action runs until March 10, with awareness-raising events taking place at schools and Caerphilly council buildings.

A World Wildlife Fund Cymru-run initiative was also launched at Greenhill Primary, Gelligaer, called Hidden Heroes.

This aims to highlight and recognise inspirational people who have gone the extra mile in helping to improve the environment in their local community.

Greenhill Primary was dubbed ‘the greenest school in the UK” because it generates electricity from four wind turbines and an array of solar panels, with surplus energy exported to the grid.

It is also highly energy efficient, with the top A+ rating and the school also harvests rainwater.

Greenhill has also signed up to WWF Cymru’s green ambassador scheme, which aims to encourage a new generation of sustainability champions.

Caerphilly council hopes other residents start leading a greener lifestyle, It offers the advice including turning lights and electrical appliances off when they are not needed, setting washing machines to 30C, turning off taps while people brush their teeth and boiling low and precise amounts of water for cups of tea.

Cllr Ken James, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and sustainable development said: “The choices we make around energy, food and transport have a large impact on our carbon emissions and I hope that Climate Week will renew people’s ambition to create a more sustainable, low-carbon future.

“If we all make the effort to do at least one new thing to help save energy, then we can help make a big difference.”

Find out more at www.caerphilly.gov.uk/sustainable

Details of Hidden Heroes can be found at www.wwf.org.uk/hiddenheroes