Student Design Marks Leeds’ Low-Carbon Future
Schools, universities, homes, healthcare facilities and civic buildings connected to Leeds PIPES will soon feature a new plaque created by a local student, making it easier for residents to recognise organisations helping to support the city’s journey towards net zero.
The initiative was officially launched on 15 July at Trinity Academy Leeds, where the winning plaque design, created by Year 8 student Chloe, was revealed. The plaques will gradually be installed across the city, establishing a clear and recognisable identity for buildings linked to the Leeds PIPES network.
Since launching in 2018, Leeds PIPES has expanded to more than 30km of pipework and now supplies heat to over 4,100 homes and 30 public and commercial buildings. In 2025 alone, the network helped reduce the city’s carbon emissions by more than 7,000 tonnes of CO₂. The project has also achieved a customer satisfaction rating of 97.44% and supported the creation of 430 jobs throughout the Leeds City Region.
The unveiling event was attended by representatives from both Leeds City Council and Vital Energi, including:
• Polly Cook, Chief Officer for Climate, Energy and Green Spaces at Leeds City Council
• Lisa Martin, Social Value & Customer Care Manager at Vital Energi
• Isabelle Humphreys, Graduate Social Value Co-Ordinator at Vital Energi
• Lucy Bennett, Marketing Executive at Vital Energi
As part of the launch activities, around 240 Year 8 students participated in an assembly exploring the role young people can play in creating a more sustainable future. The session also highlighted career pathways within the green energy sector. In addition, a smaller group of pupils took part in an interactive workshop featuring climate-focused activities, games and challenges.
Andrew Wightman, Regional Director at Vital Energi, said:
“Many organisations across Leeds are proud to be connected to the Leeds PIPES heat network and contributing to reducing the city’s carbon emissions. These plaques will provide a visible symbol of that contribution, helping residents, visitors and building users identify the organisations supporting Leeds’s low-carbon future. Chloe has produced a fantastic design and it’s great to see such strong enthusiasm for climate action from the next generation.”
Councillor James Gibson, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said:
“The Leeds PIPES network will provide residents and businesses with a way to access affordable and low carbon heating and also play a key part of the council’s strategy to become the UK’s first net zero city. These plaques offer a creative way for buildings to show they are a part of the network, and we look forward to seeing more of them in the future as it expands across the city.”
