The Co-op Academy Brierley has become the latest building to connect to the Leeds PIPES Heat Network, and is set to feel the benefits of more reliable, affordable, low carbon, heat and hot water from the exemplar scheme.
The milestone was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony held at the school and attended by key partners including Leeds City Council, Vital Energi and Ener-Vate.
The newly opened SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) school is the latest connection marking the continued expansion of the Leeds PIPES network beyond the city centre into Harehills; with key locations such as St. James’ Hospital in Burmantofts already benefitting from cheaper, more sustainable energy provided through the heat network.
Leeds PIPES recently celebrated having connected over 3,000 dwellings and 55 buildings since it was launched in 2018. It has been responsible for reducing nearly 6,000 tonnes of carbon emissions across the city in 2023 alone.
Co-op Academy Brierley joins a number of educational establishments that have already connected to Leeds PIPES, including Trinity Academy Leeds, Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Conservatoire.
Further extending the scheme’s impact into the classroom, partners behind the network, Leeds City Council, Vital Energi and Ener-Vate, have committed to the delivery of climate education sessions in schools across the city, empowering local young people to discover their future role in the wider green transition.
Andrew Wightman, Regional Director at Vital Energi, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to see Leeds PIPES continue to grow across the city, connecting buildings like the Co-op Academy Brierley so that staff and pupils can benefit from cheaper, more sustainable heat and hot water.
Delivering PIPES in partnership with Leeds City Council and Ener-Vate, we’ve seen first-hand the positive impact building connections have had in cost and carbon savings, something we’ll only see more of as we further expand the network.
We look forward to supporting Co-Op Academy Brierly further in their Climate Change curriculum and giving pupils and staff the chance to learn more about Leeds PIPES and the green industry in which the project is leading the way.”
Sarah Harridge, Headteacher at the Co-op Academy Brierley, said:
“I’ve been very impressed by the partnership between, Leeds City Council, Vital Energi and Ener-Vate in rolling out and expanding the Leeds PIPES network to include Co-op Academy Brierley. Co-op schools are leading the way in dramatically reducing our carbon emissions and actively engaging in a climate change curriculum and opportunities.
The Leeds PIPES heat network was named following a collaboration with year 9 pupils at Co-op Academy Leeds. These pupils created the name ‘Leeds PIPES’ – with PIPES standing for ‘Providing Innovative Pro-Environment Solutions‘.
At Co-op Brierley, we feel very fortunate to be part of this partnership and look forward to all the learning opportunities it creates for our children and young people, while benefiting from an affordable, reliable, and low carbon heating system.”
To find out more about the Leeds PIPES District Heat Network, please visit: https://www.leeds-pipes.co.uk/
