National Framework for Sustainable Schools
You might have heard of the government’s National Framework for Sustainable Schools which talks about eight “doorways” to sustainability. We’ve identified five of these that are particularly relevant to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. They are:
Energy and Water: 22% of total school emissions come from the electricity they use.
Travel and traffic: 14% of school emissions come from travel to school
Buildings and grounds: 26% of emissions are “direct emissions” from the school grounds, so this will include oil or gas ired heating etc.
Purchasing and waste: Emissions relating to furniture and paper, i.e. in their production, account for 10% of CO₂ emissions.
Food and Drink: 6% of total school emissions come from transport “in the industrial supply chain.” So this includes getting food to the school. This doesn’t take account of the huge CO₂ emissions that are involved in getting much of our food to the UK in the first place.
For each of these areas People & Planet is producing an action sheet which gives details of the effects of that area and what action you can take to reduce these effects. These actions include things such as: Generating electricity on-site, using renewable solar and wind energy, improving insulation, more staff and students cycling or walking to school, composting left over food and green waste, good recycling facilities, buying recycled products where possible and producing food on school grounds.