At George Heriot’s, the Junior School Eco Club and Senior School Environmental Action Research Team brought the idea of being sustainable for one whole month to the forefront of our minds. This committee work very hard to ensure that we are doing our best to be as environmentally friendly as possible all year round, but made a particular effort to remind our staff and pupils of what we can do differently for the month of September to kickstart the new academic session.
Read some of our thought-provoking topics below:
Oxfam challenged people to ‘Say No to New’ for the month of September. Find out more here.
Pupils discussed the impact of mobile phone and other technology use on the environment, and watched a ‘Me vs Climate Change’ clip on BBC IPlayer. The clip highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of fixing mobile phones instead of buying new ones, and of using WiFi to increase battery life (and therefore reduce the need for charging!). Carphone Warehouse accepts old mobile phones and recycles them to make money for charity
Pupils were asked to consider how they could be more eco-friendly when eating and drinking ‘on the run’. This theme links to a recent report from the Scottish Government:
How much energy (and money!) could you save at home? Which energy-saving ‘quick win’ will you choose from this list.
How can investors change the world?
Party bags – Are the Party Bags you give/receive damaging the environment? Is there a way you can make them more sustainable? Should we always give party bags/do children expect party treat bags after parties? Do you use/value the small plastic single toys, rubber balls, balloons etc?
Sustainable alternatives include – books, pencils, seed packets, compostable plant pots, homemade baking/sweets. Some further ideas can be found here.
Can you ever have enough toys? Do you sometimes have to clear space in your room to make room for new toys? What are most of your toys made of? Is this sustainable? There is a huge problem with the amount of plastic toys being produced and played with every day. Most of them (approx. 90%) are made from plastic, the majority of which is very difficult, if not impossible to recycle. These toys are often cheaply made and don’t last long, yet they leave a lasting plastic legacy. Would you consider giving your toys to someone else as a gift for a birthday or celebration? How would you feel if you received a pre-loved gift as a present? Read this article for more information.
During registration, pupils talked about the features of the Giki App and other apps that help us to be more environmentally friendly.
Pupils were asked about their carbon footprint and what they could do to reduce it. There is a questionnaire here with advice.
Senior School pupils were asked about the different shops that are working to reduce waste. Charity shops, The Refillery, The Edinburgh Tool Library and even Toy Libraries, such as Whirli, are just some examples of businesses that are trying to change the way we shop and reduce environmental impacts.
Why should we save water in Scotland when there is so much rain? Our use of water and energy are closely linked. Emissions/pollution from the water industry account for nearly 1% of the UK’s total. A major source of emissions is from using hot water within homes. Reducing the time you shower or the amount of hot water you use for cleaning dishes therefore has a significant impact on your personal carbon footprint. Using water efficiently means that we can minimise the amount of additional water resources being taken out of our rivers and aquifers, especially as demands are rising. This protects our water resources and the wildlife that live in and use them too.
Some of our Junior School classes were researching about out how small changes at home can make a difference to reduce climate change. Can you take the 2-minute shower challenge? Are there electricity vampires sapping energy in your home?
On 20th September, children around the world took part in a strike to raise awareness and demand action on climate change. This video by Greta Thunberg and George is a good introduction about the climate strikes. EARTH gave a motivational assembly about Climate Change and Fast Fashion, and are working on letters for MPs and MSPs.
Another way to reduce your carbon footprint, especially during short trips, is to walk or cycle. Have you tried taking your bike to school? If not, what barriers are preventing you cycling to school? Sustrans estimates that the average family could save £642 a year by swapping a car-based school run for walking or cycling. Further resources and activities are available here if you have time to investigate this further with your class.
Finally, what can you do to make a difference? This clip has some simple suggestions for you to make your lifestyle more climate friendly. If you have time, we also recommend you watching these ‘Me vs Climate Change’ clips on BBC IPlayer.
