A SUSTAINABILITY group has almost completed its mission to transform an old school into an eco-friendly building, which can be used once more by the community.
Transition Town Rhayader have been successful in obtaining over £30,000 to give the Old School, Cwmdauddwr a much needed ‘eco-refurbishment’.
The project is nearing completion, after the energy committee has focused all its efforts on updating the building.
The Old School, a much loved relic of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, ceased to be a school many years ago.
Since then, local groups including the town council have used the building for meetings and activities.
Two years ago, the Transition group was given the money through the Severn Wye Energy Agency and the Low Carbon Communities Project, to develop “a community-owned renewable energy scheme” in the town, and to raise awareness of low carbon issues.
Together with the board of trustees for the school, the Transition group has installed double glazing and solar thermal panels for hot water, as well as photovoltaic panels to generate electricity.
The building has already begun to generate its own power, notching up 20kW of energy by the last meeting of Rhayader Town Council, October 19.
The project is due for completion at the end of February and is currently on target.
The energy sub-group is now looking for a new project and is open to any and all ideas that the community might have and which they might like to bring to the group.
Projects need to be about reducing energy use, producing renewables, carbon reduction and energy sustainability.