Environment

Hampton's environmental record

LOOKING BACK & FORWARD

In 2006, Hampton became the first school in the UK to off-set its CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, and so gain the status of “Carbon Neutral”.

Although this received an unusual amount of publicity, it is but only one aspect of Hampton School’s ongoing programme of environmental initiatives.

The aim of all of the initiatives is to run this large community in an increasingly responsible way in terms of environmental and ethical issues, and also to give the clearest possible educational messages to our pupils, staff and all other members of the wider school community about the importance of seeking to minimise one’s carbon footprint, for the sake of everyone. We hope that by setting a good example as an institution, we can help positively influence the expectations and behaviour of our pupils as future citizens and future leaders.

The following environmental initiatives were established in the period 1997 – November 2008:

• Paper recycling scheme.

• Building Management System, which controls the School’s heating systems to ensure that they run with maximum efficiency.

• Double glazing, now installed in 90% of the School’s windows.

• Field Irrigation Scheme, which irrigates at night time, thus minimising evaporation rates and ensuring greater water- efficiency, along with better grass growth.

• Waste audit carried out by pupils in 2005 with assistance of Global Action Plan. This led to a radical upgrade of our recycling scheme, reducing aspects of our waste by 20%.

• The Catering Department reduced the amount of pre packed foods in favour of fresh food with peelings recycled.

• Establishment of an Environmental Committee involving staff and boys.

• Week long visit of an ‘Environmentalist in Residence’, Phil Williams in January 2005. Phil returns each year to address the Second Year.

• Carbon Neutral initiative with Climate Care, launched in September 2006.

• Site visit from Woking Borough Council Environmental Department in October 2006. Woking is the most advanced council in the country, in environmental terms.

• Carbon Audit of the whole site by The Carbon Trust. March – June 2007.

• Environmental Grounds vehicle wash-down point.

• Extension of recycling to include food waste, printer cartridges, bottles, spectacles, batteries and mobile phones.

• The formulation of a School Environmental Development Plan in spring 2007, which is updated annually.

• Compactor and recycling facility for cardboard which have reduced waste going to landfill by 20%.

• Combined heat and power unit installed in November 2008.

• Bore hole to provide water for the fields, which enables the School to be self-sufficient in terms of water for irrigation of pitches and environmentally responsible with water use.

• Installation of photo-voltaic solar panels on the Main Hall roof with a display panel in the Reception area indicating energy generated and the School carbon footprint reduced by the initiative. Planning permission is awaited for a wind turbine on the School’s tower.

• Raising community awareness through use of training days for staff, and through curriculum developments in various subject areas in PHSE and full-School and year-group assemblies.

• Al Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth will continue to be shown to all members of the Fourth Year and above.

• Ongoing upgrading of lighting control across the site by installing movement sensors in corridors, offices and classrooms.

• Ongoing installation of a new radiant panel heating system with local thermostats for the main building. This is being installed as part of a ten year programme.

The perennial injunction to take local action in the light of global awareness will continue to shape developments at Hampton School, for the sake both of current members of this community, and of future generations everywhere.

'Greener is Cooler'. Click the link to read an article* about how Hampton is reducing its carbon emissions.

* Taken from the ICT for Education Magazine, January / February 2009, issue 37

C G Cullen
January 2010