What we mean by raising awareness
Everyone in school should be aware that you are beginning to manage your energy and water use. This message can be conveyed through assemblies, posters, staff and governor meetings and by using prominently located notice boards.
Letting the wider community know what you are doing can help spread the word, reminding others to reduce their energy and water use and further help the environment.
What are the benefits?
Up to 20% of your energy and water consumption can be a result of poor awareness and management. Maximum savings are only possible if everyone is aware and involved in trying to reduce usage.
Raising awareness is the first step to behavioural change. Inform everyone of your energy and water management activities and encourage them to take part. This will in turn raise your profile both internally and externally, helping to:
- Improve the success of any future activities
- Raise your profile locally
- Motivate others to take action by taking the initiative
- Encourage pupil / parent selection
- Recruit staff and governors.
How to get started
Speak to all teaching and non-teaching staff and pupils about how energy and water is used in school to get an idea of the current level of awareness.
Internal actions:
- Set up notice boards in prominent locations
- Create posters (in Art or English lesson) which can be displayed around the school
- Register with us and promote this in school
- Run assemblies to feed back initial findings
- Promote successes.
External actions:
- Incorporate information into newsletters and your school website
- Write newspaper articles
- Prominently display activities during open days or parent /teacher evenings.
How Sustainable Learning helps you raise awareness
Sustainable Learning offers guidance on the importance of raising awareness. You will have access to colourful certificates which can be displayed on notice boards.
Where to get further information
The Carbon Trust provides a free guide ‘Creating an awareness campaign’ (CTG001) which includes some great ideas on how to raise awareness and increase involvement in your energy and water saving activities.
