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Helping local authorities cut carbon emissions
22 June 2009
Schools are responsible for the equivalent of 9.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, or 15% of all public sector carbon emissions. Only two percent of schools' emissions are from waste - the majority stem from school procurement and energy use.
As part of Waste Watch's Sustainable Schools programme, we are working with six state schools in Wandsworth to reduce their carbon emissions and improve their environmental footprint.
The Sustainable Schools programme incorporates an environmental management system tailored to each school. This will cut their carbon emissions and will help participating local authorities achieve emissions reductions and reduce energy consumption as a part of their carbon reduction commitment (CRC). Over the five year programme, schools focus on all aspects of waste, from refuse, recycling and energy, through to procurement, transport and food.
Year one focuses on energy and waste, and Programme Manager Dr Vassia Paloumbi is encouraged by the progress so far within the Wandsworth cluster of schools.
"So far we have carried out detailed environmental assessments of all the primary schools, including staff interviews, an assessment of energy bills and a detailed visit to identify problem 'hot spots' and possible solutions. We have calculated the carbon footprint for the schools arising from paper use, waste to landfill and energy use for the building and compared this with national benchmarks.
Our next step is to work with each school to produce a tailored action plan to cut their carbon."
Schools taking part in the programme have already started to see benefits. "The children and staff have definitely increased their awareness of the environment and have begun to adapt their lifestyles," said Nicole Modesti, from Trinity St Mary's primary school.
Over five years, Waste Watch will help the schools implement sustainable changes which include the whole school community, for example through pupil-led activities, volunteer programmes, and ambassadors' training. The programme is integrated into the curriculum and will track each school's progress towards sustainability year on year.
To find out more about our Sustainable Schools programme, please contact Vassia Paloumbi on 020 7549 0335.
