Wednesday, July 23, 2008

End of Term

Hilary Benn, our environment minister, announced last week, that British state schools are to be included under the government's new domestic carbon emissions trading scheme from April 2010. Energy use in schools will be measured and count toward the emissions permit quotas of local authorities, which in turn will be encouraged to advise schools on energy efficiency.

"Young people stand to gain most from the action we take today, on climate change. That's why schools should be included in the shift to a low carbon economy," Benn said in a statement. Britain has also earmarked 110 million pounds for installing renewable energy technology in more than 200 secondary schools undergoing refurbishment over the next three years.

Great news, but too late perhaps, for the Suffolk School that had to install air conditioning in their new building which houses their computer department, when south facing windows made working conditions intolerable!

Meanwhile, the materials that are brought to our recycling centre continue to be diverted away from our local landfill sites and provide an extra income for school projects. We shall have two extra facilities soon. People will be able to leave unwanted books, which we shall try to sell.

We shall also be collecting unused toner and inkjet cartridges, a new addition to run alongside our successful used cartridge recycling project.