Watt a Bright Idea!

A Bedford Borough school will soon be saving money on its energy bills and reducing its impact on the environment after receiving more than £16,000 from the Climate Change Fund.

Newnham Middle School has successfully applied to the Climate Change Fund for the replacement of existing lighting in the main school building with low energy LED light fittings. This is expected to save nearly £4,500 per year in energy costs and nearly 24 tonnes of carbon.

The Climate Change Fund provides match funding of between £5,000 and £20,000 for community group projects that will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions within Bedford Borough.

Applicants will need to provide match funding of at least 50% of the total project cost and the project itself must be located within Bedford Borough.

Ruth Wilkes, Head at Newnham Middle School, said: "Replacing the old lighting in the school will save us a significant amount of money every year as well as reducing our impact on the environment.

"The new lights are more energy efficient will last longer and provide better and brighter lighting. They are part of our efforts to be as 'green' as we can be.

The Climate Change Fund means this work is affordable and we can have the lighting replaced very soon."

Lib Dem Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "By replacing the old lighting in the school, Newnham Middle will save nearly £4,500 on their energy bills every year.

"The Climate Change Fund has helped a huge range of schools, charities, parish councils and other community organisations to save money and help protect the environment. If anyone has an idea I urge them to get in touch and find out how we can help them."

For more information about the Climate Change Fund and to download the Application Form and Guidance Notes visit: www.bedford.gov.uk/ccf.