Tuesday, June 7, 2011

How To Make Schools More Environmentally Friendly

By Mark Walters


Reducing the impact we have on the environment is going to take many years of sustained change in the way we live our lives. While the current level of concern didn't really exist when many of us were younger, we need to make sure that our children grow up with an understanding of why this change is so important. So how can we create more environmentally friendly schools?

One of the easiest and quickest ways schools can help to reduce their impact on the environment, is to look at ways they can save energy. Something as simple as installing energy saving light-bulbs is not only good for the planet, it's also a great way to lower the school's energy bills. As is turning of lights and any other equipment in the school when it's not being used.

Schools have an excellent opportunity to make the most of natural energy sources, to provide themselves with some of the energy they need. With plenty of funding available from various sources, placing solar panels on the top of school buildings, and wind turbines around the school grounds, could help schools reduce their reliance on traditional energy sources, and their impact on the environment.

Schools have an incredible opportunity to provide the latest generation with an education that has a strong focus on the environment, and what they can do to help. Children will grow up wanting to make a difference, if schools teach them about recycling, energy efficiency, and the different renewable energy technologies. All of which will help them to understand the important part they have to play in helping the environment face all its challenges.

Recycling is a great way to get the most out of the earth's resources, and schools should be teaching children about the importance of recycling many of the things we use, as well as providing initiatives to help encourage it. By making recycling a way of life at school, it will help children develop the habit for their adult years.

As well as what takes place inside the school, there are positive changes that could be made outside as well. Each day cars and buses ferry children to and from school, all contributing to the harmful gases we pump into the atmosphere. It's not always possible but, parents making more of an effort to share the school run, and getting more kids to use the bus or perhaps even cycle or walk to school, will be a step in the right direction.

Schools have a lot of potential to improve their environmental credentials, not just by changing how they're run, but by giving their pupils the education that will help them become the environmental champions of tomorrow.




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