Since September, the Eco-council have been working hard finding information and ways to improve the sustainability of the Academy. We have been looking at fair trade options and how much paper/energy we can reduce. Presently we are looking at way of purchasing a solar panel to heat water in the academy.
What do you think should be our priority to help make Dixons green?
All suggestion and ideas welcome!
Note: the best comment this term will receive a digital viewing device. GET BLOGGING
1. Reduce the amount of paper we use in the Academy!
ReplyDelete2. Turn the heating off when spring is here
3. Have light sensors instead of all lights on all of the time.
The fact a digital viewing system, made using lots of CO2 emissions, is used as an incentive to write about green issues online is one of the many contradictions this school has made that underlies the fundamental lack of priorities people have about changing this schools carbon footprint. It seems to me as much money that has been pumped into this eco-project it seems like all we have done is the easier points of staying green. Recycling, re-using and reducing all fundamental aspects of reducing this schools carbon footprint but they are things that should be normal, not a special effort.
ReplyDeleteIt is my opinion that it’s bigger large scale projects that are what needs to happen to make a real impact. We need to look at our water, energy, building and material useage and work out ways we can carry on working in this environment as sustainable as we can make it. For energy, we need to seriously consider how much energy is wasted let alone used in our school buildings. It is ridiculous to think that in some classrooms it is so hot, as the heating is standard across the board that they are using heating and air-conditioning on at the same time! Furthermore, issues such as the large-scale production of food dished out every lunch can have a huge carbon footprint if you don’t think of packaging, waste, and most importantly where it is sourced.
What is the point in recycling 500 sheets of paper if everyday we are shipping in foreign food to feed the students and are wasting hundreds of CO2 to heat air in classrooms only for this energy to be cooled down again? .
A primary school in the UK recently won an award for the being the most sustainable school institution 2008 and it was refreshing to see how seriously they took the school’s carbon footprint. They had completely radicalised their building and learning to make energy useage not only a feature of the school but actually embedded in the curriculum. They had features such as grass amphitheatres, gardens the students tended to, solar panels, ecotricity powering the school, a huge panel calculating how CO2 was used each week. I am not trying to put down what has been done in our school already as I think the eco-blog and emphasis Dixons CA has put on our impact in the environment are very positive steps forward I just think that Climate Change is an issue far too pressing to just pass off a eco-weekly tip as much as we can do.
Sarah Lawson 13ect
Following on from Sarah Lawsons comments, I would like to say that all of the issues you have raised are issues that the eco-council are trying to address. I also think that it is important that you are aware that the Senior Management Team in school also take these issues very seriously and are addressing them from their end too. As a school we are commited to reduce our energy consumption and this is a target that is set as part of our Development Plan. The Govenors have recently been approached to approve funding to insulate all piping in school and make improvements that would help us better manage our heating systems. Although these are start they are by no means the end of the actions that are taking place, but they will hopefully go a long way to help improve our green credentials.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comments about the Digital Viewing System, I would like to assure you that no money has been spent on this as it was donated as part of the Asda Green scheme.
I know the eco-council value your comments and it would be lovely if you could come along to a meeting and discuss your concerns with other students who feel the same way as you do and find out more about what they are trying to do. The eco-council meet in the Library each Wednesday at 13.10. Hope to see you there.