The Energy Minister and Deputy Mayor of London have welcomed school infrastructure upgrades in Hounslow.
Four more schools across Hounslow are set to save more than £100 ,000 a year on energy bills thanks to a major investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements, helping Hounslow Council reduce carbon emissions across the borough.
The Council has completed the latest phase of its schools decarbonisation programme at Feltham Hill Infant and Nursery School, Cardinal Road Primary School, Southville Primary School and Beavers Primary School, delivering solar panels, energy-efficient LED lighting and essential roof improvements.
The programme is estimated to reduce energy consumption across the four schools by more than 400,000kWh every year, while cutting carbon emissions by around 84 tonnes annually. The improvements are also estimated to save schools thousands of pounds each year in energy costs, helping education budgets go further and ensuring more resources can be directed towards teaching and learning.
Supported through Great British Energy’s Mayoral Renewables Fund, delivered by DESNZ, these projects are helping schools reduce reliance on fossil fuels and generate their own clean electricity. Funding for solar installations was secured and distributed by the Mayor of London, whose local knowledge, networks and partnerships helped identify the schools that would benefit most. Combined with energy-efficiency improvements, the investment will help create more resilient school buildings that are fit for the future .
Minister of State for Energy, Michael Shanks MP, said:
“Our priority is to bring down bills with homegrown energy – and these schools are already saving money thanks to our government-backed Great British Energy solar panels.
“It means that these schools, like many others across the country, can reinvest thousands of pounds back into the classroom where it belongs.”
London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban, added:
“This is climate action delivering real benefits for Londoners. By helping four Hounslow schools install solar panels and make their buildings more energy efficient, we are helping them to cut carbon emissions which are saving them more than £100,000 a year—money that can instead support children’s education.
“The Mayor is proud to support these projects through Great British Energy’s Mayoral Renewables Fund. They show how investment in clean energy can lower bills, create greener and more resilient schools, and inspire young Londoners to play their part in tackling the climate crisis, as we build a fairer, greener London for everyone.”
Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Public Realm at Hounslow Council, said:
"We’ve had a summer of record-breaking heatwaves, a stark reminder of how important it is for us to do our bit to prevent global heating, while the war in Iran is once again spiking energy prices, which are hitting our schools along with everyone else. Every extra penny schools spend on energy, is a penny they cannot spend on educating our children.
"The savings generated by these improvements can be reinvested into education, while the renewable energy systems help protect schools from rising energy prices in the future. Just as importantly, pupils can see climate action happening in their own school communities, helping us inspire the next generation to play their part in building a greener borough."
Beyond reducing emissions and energy costs, the project is helping to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. Schools participating in the programme will benefit from educational activities focused on renewable energy, sustainability and climate action, helping pupils understand the role they can play in creating a greener future.
The project forms part of the Council's wider commitment to tackling the climate emergency while delivering practical benefits for local communities. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and protecting schools from future energy price volatility, the investment helps create more resilient public buildings that are fit for the future.
Robbie McKinnon, Decarbonisation and Energy Performance Contracting Manager at Axis CLC, said:
"This programme demonstrates how carefully planned decarbonisation projects can deliver immediate environmental benefits while supporting the long-term operational needs of schools.
"By combining Solar PV, energy-efficient LED lighting and targeted roof improvements, we've helped the London Borough of Hounslow reduce energy consumption and bills, lower carbon emissions and create more sustainable learning environments, all while delivering the works safely within live school settings."
The schools decarbonisation programme is one of a number of initiatives being delivered by Hounslow Council to reduce carbon emissions across its estate, improve energy efficiency and support the borough's ambitious environmental goals.
