Students from Llanidloes High School have been advising their school governors on how to reduce energy use and save vital money for their schools.
They have been working on a project called Our Future’s People, led by Severn Wye Energy Agency.
Free to schools and funded through the Welsh Government Rural Development Programme, Our Future’s People is a sustainable energy project that seeks to reduce schools’ carbon emissions while educating future citizens of the need to protect our planet.
With UK schools releasing enough carbon dioxide to fill 24 million double-decker buses a year and Welsh Government aiming to cut emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, this work is more important than ever.
Schools that have previously taken part in the project have reduced their carbon emissions by 23 per cent.
Furthermore, three quarters of teachers and 98 per cent of students indicated that their behaviour had become more energy conscious as a result of the project.
Dan Owen, headteacher at Llanidloes High School, said on behalf of the governors: “We are immensely proud of our pupils for their wholehearted commitment to sustainability and energy conservation. Their thorough research and passion shone through during their presentation to the finance sub-committee of the governing body.
“All members of the committee felt that the messages they shared were both enlightening and challenging.
“In response, we will be discussing which of their proposals can be implemented in the short, medium and long term.”