THE grass is definitely greener for Okehampton College as it continues its pledge to conserve energy on a large scale this half term.

Plans to embrace energy efficiency at the college will see the installation of significant additional insulation through Devon County Council's Green Challenge Fund.

It will mean a thorough review of the heating system to improve control and distribution of the heat.

It will also look at the potential to convert boilers to wood chip as an alternative to the current gas ones. 

The college has also been shortlisted for the coveted Ashden Award which could help to provide valuable funding for the next phase of energy efficiency. 

Science teacher at the college, Keith Webber, said: 'Shortly we hope to unveil a very ambitious plan to generate more of its own energy through further renewable schemes. 

'Energy and Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund's (EDF) Green Energy fund has already helped to provide solar photovoltaic panels both at the college and Okehampton Primary School.

'With the help of the college, five other local primary schools are also about to install their own renewable energy systems as the community-wide energy project continues to grow.'

Okehampton College will also be hosting free events in partnership with the Learn Devon initiative.

A presentation on energy efficiency in the home and fuel poverty will be led by member of West Country Energy Action Tony Merrick.

The talk is for anyone who wants to find out how to make their home more energy efficient and reduce energy bills by simple measures. 

It will be held on Thursday, February 25 from 6pm till 8pm at the college. 

There will also be a talk on renewable energy in the home and the feed-in tariff and renewable heat incentive, which will explain how residents can generate their own energy at home and be paid a generous premium for it through the new system of feed-in tariffs.

The event is on Thursday, March 4 from 6pm till 8pm and will be led by Paul Baker of the Devon Association For Renewable Energy.

There will also be an opportunity to watch a film, The Age Of Stupid, which will show the outcome of carbon linked climate change. 

Before and after the film there will be a chance to express views on the subject, as well as future fuel security, and a discussion at 6.30pm.

The film will be screened on Friday, March 12 at 7pm in the Octagon Theatre.

A public presentation on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) — the world' s largest science experiment, designed to answer some of the biggest questions involving 8,000 scientists from all over the world — will be held on Tuesday, March 16 at 7pm.

To reserve a place for any of the presentations phone Keith Webber on 01837 650910 or email [email protected]">[email protected]