Currently English schools emit an estimated 8.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. That's around 15 per cent of public-sector emissions and 2 per cent of the national total. Coupled with the fact that schools are ideally placed to take a lead within communities to help reduce carbon emissions, it becomes clear how important it is for schools to be more sustainable.

A good way to become more sustainable is via an accreditation scheme. The Eco-Schools Award (external link) is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these principles into the heart of school life, and certifying and accrediting their work in this area. Joining the Eco-Schools programme is free and it makes tackling sustainable issues manageable and easy for all schools.

Cumbria already has over 80 eco-schools and Resource Cumbria would like to help them, and indeed every other school in Cumbria, to share the valuable eco-knowledge that they have gained. We want your students to give us all of your hints, tips and recommendations which have helped you to make your school that little bit greener.

We don't mind how large scale they are - it could be an account of your school's new wind turbine or simply just a suggestion to use old Christmas cards in arts and crafts lessons. And we don't mind who they come from - we'll take suggestions from primary and secondary schools, independent or state.

All that we ask is you give us the student's name and age to put next to the tip and, if possible, a digital image or illustration to go with it. We'll upload the best ones we receive to this website.

You can send us your sustainable school tips by using our online form. You can complete and return your form electronically or you can print it off and post it to us at the address below. Any digital images should be emailed to ian.garrow@cumbriacc.gov.uk.

Ian Garrow
Senior Waste Education Officer
Barras Lane
Dalston
CA5 7NY