Once you’ve calculated your school’s carbon footprint, you have the opportunity to take that data and make an impact. We have laid out a few ways you can do that.
- Implement carbon reduction plan (which can include efficiency standards for new buildings and renovations). Go to the “Reduce Your Footprint” tab for ideas.
The report should outline your “Why,” “What,” and “How”:
Why?
Write a few paragraphs about why your school should care about being an environmentally sound space. Is your school a good model of environmental practices? What should the expectation be for your school’s involvement in environmental issues? Also be sure to include how your school can benefit from becoming more eco-friendly (include that schools can save money from installing more efficient appliances and rebates).
What?
What can your school do to become more environmentally-friendly? Check out the “Ways to Reduce Your Footprint” tab for ideas.
How?
How can your school implement environmentally-friendly practices? For example, if you want your school to get Energy Star rated appliances, how can they do that? What are the benefits (long term)? Research the cost, and the payback period (how long it will take before the school will be saving money).
A sustainability roadmap is an effective way of setting standards for the future at your school. This can include future goals for your school such as a zero waste and/or zero carbon emissions deadline as well as efficiency standards for new buildings and renovations.
This roadmap can be more than just a list of suggestions – it could have rules standards that everybody in your school will be held to. You may want to collaborate with a member of the administration such as a dean or a principle in order to make regulations that are relevant to both the faculty and the students. The rules can range in level of impact from allowing only sustainably produced and recyclable paper to making sure each new building follows LEED certification guidelines (even if you don’t get formally certified).
- Share the carbon footprint findings with stakeholders at your school (administrators, faculty, board and fellow students) to create awareness and promote discussion/dialogue about lowering CO2 emissions at your school.
- Use your findings to campaign to get your school to install solar panels and commit to having solar on new buildings.
- Share your report as well the HSSG with other schools and go to conferences and gatherings with students so you can build a network of youth change-makers.
- Communicate findings to local public officials and representatives to help inform new rules, regulations and policies.
- Reach out to local media as a way to get your story out.