Old Earth Primary School, Elland, has installed a wind turbine. Students decided they wanted to make a big impact at the end of the first year of an eco-schools partnership.

The primary joined forces with Bolton Brow Primary, Luddenden Foot Primary, Christ Church Sowerby Bridge and Triangle School, to organise a series of green events throughout the year.

After an "eco-summit" at Halifax Town Hall in September, "eco-warriors" from all the schools have been coming up with ideas all year to make them even more environmentally-friendly.

Now wind turbines have been fitted at four of the schools.

Dan Burns, head of Bolton Brow, said: "Our turbine is up and running and the children are very excited. We have got one of the windiest spots of all."

To celebrate, children at Old Earth made their own brightly coloured windmills and crowded into the playground to watch the turbine in action.

Head teacher Paul Reynolds estimates the device will provide enough electricity to power three classrooms.

He said: "We are coming to end of the first year of the project. They are delighted to be able to put a sustainable element into the school. It is the biggest thing they have been able to contribute so far."

The £2,500 cost of the turbine was met with grants from Calderdale Council sustainability team and Nestle, and in-school fund-raising.

James Martin, six, added: "We use a lot of electricity so it is good to give some more back."

Members of the eco-council said they were determined to get the turbine fitted before they moved on to secondary school.

Alice Smith, 11, said: "We wanted to get the turbine to save energy because we are using a lot at the moment and it would be great to save some. It will also bring down the school bills."

Marcus Stapley, 11, said: "We got £1,000 from Nestle and wanted to put that towards something big. We were thinking about solar panels but we thought a wind turbine would be more effective."

Because Triangle School is in a valley, it is not windy enough for a turbine to be cost-effective. So head Gavin Davies took eight pupils to an eco-schools conference exhibition at Aintree to investigate other options.

Mr Davies said: "Our pupils are concentrating on looking for alternative ideas to further the eco-agenda."

They expect to go for solar panels, which would be installed next term.
In May Ravenscliffe High School, Halifax, became only the fourth special school in the country to be given the Green Flag Award, which honours schools for encouraging sustainability and environmental awareness.

The eco-school received the international award for its recycling schemes where pupils collected litter from the local community, innovative gardens that use rainwater butts, transport policies and special classes on environmental awareness.

Halifax MP Linda Riordan said: "This is a fantastic way of reducing running costs and introducing young people in Calderdale to the issue of how we can manage our energy needs now and in the near future.

"I think those responsible for public buildings, including the Houses of Parliament, should take a very close look at the energy these establishments consume and how they can reduce their reliance on fossil fuels."

The Government has announced that thousands of turbines would be needed to meet renewable energy targets of 15 per cent by 2020.

Lord Turner, who is in charge of looking at climate change, has said that turbines should be built outside every school in Britain.