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In 2006, Hampton School received national press coverage
as 'the world's first carbon neutral school', but this is
just part of a continuing commitment to environmental initiatives.
The carbon neutral project was initiated two years ago and
originally involved off-setting (through an arrangement
with a prominent company in the field, Climate Care) the
school's carbon and greenhouse gas emissions from the running
of the school site, from all journeys using school coaches
and from all school trips. Parents and staff are strongly
encouraged to offset all of their journeys via the carbon
calculator on the Climate Care website.
The initial project led to work with representatives from
Global Action Plan on other environmental projects: waste
audits, recycling projects and the two-week visit of an
Environmentalist-in-Residence (the charismatic Phil Williams).
Zac Goldsmith, so prominent in the climate change debate
of late, spoke to the whole school as part of Hampton's
Talk! Programme. An Environment Committee - in which pupil
representatives play a full and active part - has been established
and meets regularly to review policy and plan developments.
Further work is planned, including the installation of
a wind turbine, several photo-voltaic cells, and a solar
thermal unit. The aims are to continue to raise awareness
in the school community and also to collect information
for use in lessons. In a broader sense, it is felt that
the school's environmental projects can play a big role
in inculcating socially responsible patterns of behaviour
in our pupils.
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Taking our environmental responsibilities seriously provides
Hampton boys with a feeling that their education is both
broad and meaningful. It has also been about more than merely
reducing the school's carbon footprint - it has undoubtedly
enabled staff, pupils and parents to come closer together
in working towards shared goals. Moreover, our environmental
initiatives form part of a coherent 'social conscience agenda',
which the school seeks to encourage at every opportunity.
The benefits to the wider community (local, national and
international) of schools seeking to inform and inspire
young people on this subject are self-evident, as anyone
who has seen Al Gore's thought-provoking documentary, An
Inconvenient Truth, will testify
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