Leicester - Britains First Environment City

Moat Community College cherishes its limited green space being so close to Leicester city centre.

Principal Freda Hussain has resisted pressure to provide extra parking spaces by removing grassed areas. Mrs Hussain said: "It would be so much easier to maintain the grounds if they were all concrete, but I think it is very important for children living in the city to grow up to appreciate green spaces. Some of our pupils have never been to the countryside and many do not even have gardens at home."

Moat Community College, opened in 1980, has also been able to educate pupils about environmental issues by having state-of-the-art photovoltaic panels installed. The panels, which came from the first Big Brother house, allow the college to generate its own electricity.

"The children have been really interested in these panels, especially because they came from Big Brother," said Mrs Hussain. "I never realised they would be so aware of them, but they always point them out when showing visitors around."

The photovoltaic panels have helped to offset the college's rising electricity needs, due to increasing computer equipment and ventilation needs. But it has also tried to reduce its power costs by installing low-energy light bulbs and intelligent lighting controls, which use an infrared system to detect when lights are left on in empty rooms.

Moat Community College not only teaches more than 1,000 children, it also runs courses for hundreds of adults. With so many different classes in different rooms, the college has to keep a careful eye on how much heat is wasted. Before, the college was heated in 16 separate zones, so the heating could only be switched off in large areas at a time. But it has been able to significantly reduce its energy costs by installing a new radio-controlled heating system.

The new system sends signals to monitor the heat in each individual room, and it can be programmed to switch off when they reach the desired temperature at a set time. The college has also made its boiler room much more energy efficient by installing extensive insulation, including hot water tank jackets and pipe lagging.

For further details of all the environmental features at Moat Community College call Site Manager Paul Longland on 0116 242 1002 or email paullongland@hotmail.com .

Outstanding environmental features:

Photovoltaic system

Other green features:

Designated recycling area, extensive insulation, low-energy lighting, intelligent lighting controls, draught lobby entrance, flow restricted tap jets, push taps, urinal flushing controls, cycle parking, low-VOC paints, FSC timber, natural floor coverings, grounds managed to protect habitat and wildlife breeding aids.