How To Reduce The Carbon Footprint Of Your School

Julie Starr • June 6, 2022



Education is one of the best defenses against climate change. The more the world knows and understands climate change and how human action, or inaction, can affect the sustainability of the world the better-placed populations will be to help take real measures to improve sustainability and limit the negative effects of climate change. And what better place to start than in schools? 

Ensuring eco-friendly measures are taken in schools allows students, from a young age, to not only understand why they are important but it sets an example that they can follow. After all, ‘do as I do’ is a much more effective learning tool than ‘do as I say’. These young pupils should then go on to adopt these practices in all aspects of their life and in turn, a reduced carbon footprint becomes a way of life. 

So here are some steps you can take to improve lead by example and improve the carbon footprint of schools.

The school canteen
The school canteen is an excellent place to start as there are so many eco-friendly measures that can be implemented. Measures that will improve the sustainability of the school but that can also be taken home and used in pupils’ and teachers’ day-to-day life. 

Meat-free days

Meat carries with it a huge carbon footprint. Reducing the amount of meat eaten can reduce the output of greenhouse gasses considerably. So, consider implementing one day a week where meat is replaced by a plant-based alternative. Also, ensure that vegetarian offerings are included daily on the school menu. 

Food waste

Food wastage is another huge contributor to a school’s carbon footprint. Rotting food waste can end up in landfill sites emitting harmful greenhouse gasses. Ensure that every effort is made to avoid food waste.

Use local food

By sourcing your school food locally you will be cutting the associated emissions and help support your local economy. 

The school building 

Here are some ways you can make your school building more eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

  • Install motion sensor lighting so that lights are only in use when needed. 
  • Insulate the building. 
  • Use heating and air conditioning units only when absolutely needed. Consider opening windows before switching on the AC.
  • Consider alternative energy sources, such as solar power. 
  • Turn off tech that is not in use. A computer can consume up to 65% of the required energy when it is left on. The energy that is being wasted and not used. Be sure to turn off any gadgets, computers, printers, and tablets if they are not being used. 
  • Invest in quality items. When it comes to items such as cafeteria tables, desks, and chairs be sure to invest in items that will stand the test of time. These items are essential in schools and will be used every day so you want to ensure that you have chosen quality materials that will not need replacing regularly. This will help your school’s purse strings and keep its carbon footprint in check. 
  • Consider greener alternatives such as recycled paper and upgrading your technology and appliances to modern energy-efficient models. 
  • Recycle everything. Ensure that your school is littered with recycling bins for students and teachers to use. 

 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.