Schools have the chance to engage directly with children and young people and shape their understanding of nature, sustainability and the causes and impact of climate change – and how to convert this into solutions and positive action. That’s one of the reasons, for example, that all schools are expected to have a climate action plan in place by 2025.
And if you can enthuse young people, you can inspire all of society to work together at this crucial time for the planet. So all educational institutions, from nurseries to sixth-form colleges, have the potential to be a force for positive change.
Every school also has its own environmental footprint, or measure of its impact on the natural world. This takes into account energy emissions and how much land, wooded areas, water and so on are needed to provide everything it uses.
The good news is that with some changes around your school, some quick and some longer term, senior leaders, students and staff can bring down their school’s eco-footprint significantly. That means fewer carbon emissions, less landfill waste and reduced volumes of single-use plastics ending up in ocean ecosystems. Ultimately, results also include lower costs for running buildings, and more nature flourishing around your school.
Explore affordable ways in which schools can be more sustainable:
Recycling
We know this sounds like an obvious one. Indeed, it can seem so obvious that it gets forgotten. Be sure that you are recycling everything you possibly can at your school and taking advantage of all free collection services from your local council, including things like food waste. And if you reduce how much you throw away by recycling, you could save money on collection charges.
Another option is to get pupils to repurpose broken headphones or old plastic bottle caps by bringing them in to use in an art or craft session.
Get composting
Thanks to this organic (and free) process, you can convert garden and kitchen waste at your school into eco-friendly matter which you then return to your garden to improve soil quality and retain moisture. You can also reduce waste disposal costs if green waste isn’t taken as part of your regular rubbish collection services.
Various composter models are available. However, the easiest (and cheapest) method is simply to pile everything in a heap and cover with cardboard sheeting. You’ll probably also want to use some sort of container – this looks tidier and helps keep vermin at bay. Equally, it’s easier to manage and insulates the heap, making the composting process quicker.
Sustainable transport
This will help to reduce your school’s carbon footprint. And it doesn’t have to cost anything to encourage walking, cycling and car-sharing to minimise engine idling at drop-off and pick-up times. (Ultimately, short journeys can be harmful for the environment and the cars themselves, as well as being inefficient and more polluting than longer journeys.)
Work with your local council on any help they may be able to offer and take part initiatives such as Cycle to School Week.
Look at your lighting
LED (light-emitting diode) lighting consumes significantly less energy than standard fluorescent lighting, so replacing old inefficient lighting is another way schools can bring down their carbon footprint as well as their energy bills. At the same time, this type of illumination is highly consistent, providing uniform brightness so that every corner of a classroom is lit effectively, so it’s conducive to learning and helps minimise visual fatigue. At the same time, it mimics natural daylight.
Sustainable school canopies from Kensington Systems
At Kensington Systems, whose origins date back to the 1970s, we fit high-quality school canopies which are designed and built to last. Take a closer look at our outdoor dining canopies, outdoor learning canopies, cycle shelters, shade sails, covered walkways and more. We’ve also recently introduced solar canopies, which enable schools to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on energy, while enjoying a new covered outdoor space.
When it comes to sustainability, we’re committed to reducing our carbon emissions and producing and installing our products in a way which minimises impact on the environment, through our construction processes and the materials we use. We’ve partnered with leading sustainability consultant Planet Mark and are working with them to radically reduce carbon emissions and work towards Net Zero, i.e. completely eradicating the greenhouse gases which human activity produces.
So if you’re considering installing a school canopy, one of the benefits is that it doesn’t have to cost the earth – in more ways than one.
Contact us today via the online form to book a free, no-obligation meeting and we’ll take it from there.
