PUPILS in York are being invited to come up with a name for an energy system which will power hundreds of affordable new homes.

The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust has officially unveiled The Energy Centre at its Derwenthorpe development, ahead of Climate Week this week.

The centre will be a hub for the community, providing homes with heating and hot water through the burning of biomass fuel. It will also act as a meeting place for residents, businesses, schools and local groups.

The trust has asked local schools to come up with a name of their own for the centre, which features a classroom, a meeting area and a kitchen.

Hot water and heat at Derwenthorpe will be provided by the low-pollution burning of locally-sourced wood chip, which will be stored underground and will fire the centre’s biomass boiler.

Homes And Communities Agency chief executive Pat Ritchie, who cut the ribbon on the biomass boiler, said: “It is fantastic to see what is being achieved here by the trust.”