Efforts to become more energy efficient paying off for Grŵp Llandrillo Menai

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai installed its first large scale solar array last August.

The Grŵp has set ambitious targets to minimise its carbon dioxide emissions from electricity usage; the aim is to achieve total savings of 107,780KWh and 44,410kg in CO2 emissions, which corresponds to a financial saving of £17,840.

All new buildings developed by the Grŵp are compliant with the BREAMS 'excellent' classification. This means that renewable energy is incorporated at the design stage and photovoltaic cells are installed on all new buildings.

Kath Coughlin, Grŵp Llandrillo Menai's executive director of corporate finance, said: "Given the huge challenges that we're all facing due to climate change, we take very seriously our responsibility to manage and maintain our facilities in a way that minimises our carbon footprint.

"The use of photovoltaic cells is an important part of our strategy to become more energy efficient. It's very encouraging to see how quickly the installation at our Rhos campus has translated into real environmental benefits, helping us to further improve the performance of our estate.

"Our plan now is to optimise these solar arrays and create additional large scale arrays on existing buildings.

"There are many areas where we are taking action to address environmental issues. For example, we've launched a phased programme to install electric car charging points across our campuses, with the first ones recently installed at Llangefni and Rhos-on-Sea.

"We also have initiatives to upgrade lighting through the introduction of energy efficient LED bulbs, as well as projects relating to water usage, materials consumption and recycling.

"We're committed to making sustainability, environmental best practice and global citizenship part of every aspect of college life."

In additions to practical measures, awareness is also been raised among staff and students about environmental and sustainability issues.