Ten primary schools across Renfrewshire are set to benefit from free solar energy, saving more than £37,000 per year on fuel bills and cutting harmful CO2 emissions.

The solar panels will be installed at the following schools:

  • Houston Primary
  • St Fillan’s Primary, Houston
  • Ralston Primary
  • East Fulton Primary
  • St Charles’s Primary, Paisley
  • St Peter’s Primary, Paisley
  • West Primary, Paisley
  • Williamsburgh Primary
  • St Mary’s Primary, Paisley
  • Lochwinnoch Primary

Work to install the new solar panels will start at the beginning of the school summer holidays at the end of June and will be completed by the start of the new term in August.

The installation of solar panels is the latest phase of Renfrewshire Council’s drive to be greener and more efficient by reducing energy costs and emissions.

The first phase of the project, which started in 2014, saw solar panels installed in eight schools, three care homes and the newly-opened Johnstone Town Hall.

The new phase of the project is expected to achieve annual savings per school of between £2,067 and £6,203.

Total CO2 emissions from these schools are expected to be cut by 72.56 metric tonnes, enough to fill more than 435 double-decker buses.

Councillor Jacqueline Henry, convener of the council’s Education and Children Policy Board, said:

“Installing solar panels in our schools and other buildings has a number of benefits. Because the electricity generated is virtually free, we will reduce our energy bills in each of the buildings where they are fitted.

“As a further bonus, through efficient procurement we have managed to save 27% of the expected cost of this phase of the project.”

Councillor Eddie Devine, convener of the council’s Environment Policy Board, said:

“Fitting solar panels in our schools and other buildings is a practical and effective measure that the council is taking to reduce its carbon footprint.

“Developments like this are contributing to the council’s aim of reducing our green house gas emissions and making Renfrewshire a healthy, inviting and pleasant place for people to live and work in.”

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