ECO warriors at Hilmarton Primary School are enjoying the warmth of summer after the installation of their new Biomass Heater was completed.

The new heater, which burns responsibly sourced wood chips or recycled wood, has replaced the three different expensive sources of fuel the school used to use.

Staff and pupils, who have been studying energy as a topic, are hoping that the new heater will be another step towards achieving an Eco Schools Green Flag award.

Eco-Schools is an international award programme that guides schools on sustainability and provides a framework to help them embed the environmentally friendly principles into the heart of school life.

Edith Cameron, the school’s business manager, said: “It’s providing heat and hot water to the main Victorian school building, two mobiles and the school hall. It’s all eco-friendly and uses locally sourced materials.

“There are many environmental and costs benefits and the kids can view the controls on the ipads to see how it works.”

The green heater was installed after a governor saw an article in the Gazette and Herald by David McCormack from Rural Heat regarding community funding for environmentally friendly heaters.

Rural Heat agreed to fund the full project with the boiler sitting self-contained in a wooden cladded shipping container at the bottom of the school.

The school’s gardening club are planning to plant climbers next to the container to help it blend in.