A PUSH by a Bradford academy chain to become more energy efficient will be used as an example of the work being done to make the area a greener place.

A meeting being held in the shadow of Drax Power Station will also hear an update on a multi million pound scheme to heat buildings throughout Bradford City Centre through environmentally friendly schemes.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Green Economy Panel meets in the Drax Sports and Social Club near Selby and the iconic power station this afternoon. The panel is made up of West Yorkshire Councillors and representatives from power providers and Universities.

As well as discussing what is being done to tackle climate change in the West Yorkshire Area, they will also hear updates on a number of projects.

One project is by the Bradford based Beckfoot Multi-Academy Trust. The organisation, which runs several schools in the district, is planning to implement a range of energy conservation measures across its estate.

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These include using more renewable energy means and undergoing upgrades in in its lighting and heating systems by using photo voltaic technology (solar panels).

The project is expected to coast £825,000, but will save the academy chain £95,000 a year in energy bills and reduce energy consumption by 16 per cent.

Two other Bradford projects have also been given as examples of work being done to cut energy consumption.

As announced earlier this year, Bradford Council in planning to spend £45 million to replace every street light in the district with LED bulbs. In total project will deliver the replacement of over 59,000 lights and replacement of 17,000 lampposts.

The panel will be told that this project will save the Council £2 million a year in energy bills, reduce energy consumption by 65 per cent and prevent 4,730 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide being released into the atmosphere each year. It will also create 13 permanent jobs.

Members will also be given an update on the long planned “district heat network” - a Bradford city centre heat network that would use a mix of heat from a biomass boiler and gas CHP, together with thermal storage, to supply heat and electricity to a range of buildings in the city centre.

Originally the plan was costed at £8 million, but last year Bradford Councillors were told that had gone up to £11.5 million.

Today’s meeting will list the cost of the project as being £13,054,282.

The first phase would heat City Hall, the Magistrates Court, Alhambra Theatre, Margaret McMillan Tower, and Nelson Street Police Station. The second phase would heat a planned public service hub in the city centre, the planned One City Park and the Bradford Live project.

The overall scheme is expected to prevent 2,059 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide being released into the atmosphere each year.

The projects are progressing as part of the Combined Authority’s Energy Accelerator scheme to help in a shift to more environmentally friendly energy projects.