OKEHAMPTON College has come out on top once again — it has won a first prize for its impressive cuts in carbon emissions through the use of renewable energy.

The college was announced as the winner at the tenth annual Ashden Awards last Thursday.

It was among UK winners, including businesses, local authorities and charities, all who have made life-changing ideas.

Six UK and six international projects were chosen as winners and received their awards from internationally renowned natural history filmmaker, Sir David Attenborough.

The college won £10,000 to invest in future sustainable energy work.

Sir David said: 'The Ashden Award winners are champions at delivering real and practical ways of protecting our planet and its precious biodiversity through the use of sustainable energy.

'They are reducing carbon emissions and protecting local eco-systems, while at the same time improving the lives of the people they touch and reducing their level of poverty.

'They greatly deserve to be celebrated for their important role in tackling both climate change and poverty.'

The college won the judge's seal of approval after more than halving its electricity bills and reducing its CO2 emissions by 70 tonnes a year.

This was achieved by encouraging energy-saving behaviour, replacing 3,000 fluorescent lights, installing cavity wall insulation and using solar photovoltaic (PV) energy.

The college is working with eleven feeder primary schools, helping them carry out energy surveys and assisting ten of them to install solar PV.

Outside the gates the students are making sure the climate change message reaches the wider community through environmental quizzes, films and discussions.

Community technology co-ordinator at the college Keith Webber said: 'Our approach has been to win hearts and minds through our lessons and community engagement, while at the same time taking practical measures like installing renewable technologies that are used in teaching a range of subjects.'

Plans at the college include building a mini hydro system using a local stream, as well as two wind turbines, solar water heating and a biomass boiler.

Founder director of the Ashden Awards Sarah Butler-Sloss said: 'We were very impressed with the huge difference Okehampton College's sustainable energy work has made, both to the school itself and its feeder primary schools.

'Thanks to its many inspirational actions, the school's electricity consumption has fallen by more than 50%, saving an impressive £20,000 a year.

'It is very pleasing to see the commitment of the governors, staff and pupils reducing the carbon footprint of the school.'

EDF Energy's schools programme development manager, Robyn Broughton, said: 'EDF Energy has worked closely with Okehampton College through the Pod — the online hub of our Programme for Greener Schools.

'We've supported its brilliant renewable energy project through the EDF Energy Green Fund and our Paralympian Ambassador, Ellie Simmonds, who saw for herself the many sustainable initiatives that make Okehampton College so worthy of this award.'