Works to make 10 schools more energy efficient will reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Camden by 650 tonnes every year - the equivalent of driving a school bus around the world 150 times.

Camden Council began installing energy-saving lighting, better insulation and heating control systems at eight primary schools and two secondary schools last summer to improve their sustainability.

The eight primary schools are Argyle, Brecknock, Carlton, Fitzjohn’s, Gospel Oak, Kentish Town, New End and Torriano, and the two secondaries Camden School for Girls and Acland Burghley.

The works, funded by the council’s 15-year Community Investment Programme to invest money in schools, will reduce the equivalent of four million miles of CO2 emissions every year in Camden.

It is hoped the sustainability works will help the council reach its target of reducing carbon emissions by 27 per cent by 2017.

Cabinet member for children, Cllr Angela Mason, said: “These sustainability works will have a dramatic impact in reducing carbon emissions, and making our schools more energy efficient.

“Thanks to the works each year we’ll be cutting carbon dioxide equivalent to driving almost four million miles in a school bus, a phenomenal saving, and one which will help us towards cutting emissions in the borough.”

The council also carried out extensive repair work to the schools alongside the energy efficiency works, replacing windows, broken boilers and modernising classrooms.