THE Government wants every school to be a sustainable school by 2020. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) launched their Sustainable Schools Framework in 2006, setting out challenging long-term aspirations for schools about sustainable development issues and sustainable practices in every-day school life.

To help schools work out a framework for becoming greener the Eco-Schools initiative was launched (www.ecoschools.org.uk) setting out guidelines and targets and helping to network similar schools working towards the same goals.

Small changes to the environmental management of a school can result in considerable financial savings. Schools in the UK spend on average £100m on electricity; £106m on water; £39m on cleaning up litter and stopping vandalism; £56m on emptying bins; and a whopping £150m on paper and school stationery every year.

The Eco-Schools process should be enjoyable and rewarding for the whole school community. Celebrating successes encourages people to work towards the next award level or continue to be involved in a long-term project. Schools achieving a bronze and silver award receive a certificate and green flag status is rewarded with a large flag and the opportunity to use the Eco-Schools logo on school letter-headed paper.

On a local level, Eco-Schools often have the opportunity to promote their achievements to the local community.

Many schools in Cornwall are already part of the scheme and are successfully achieving some amazing green targets.

Upton Cross Primary School, near Liskeard, has even recently installed a wind turbine. Led by senior teacher Jackie Wray, the school has set up an eco committee to oversee recycling and other environmental initiatives, and has a team of energy monitors who ensure that equipment such as computer monitors and lights are switched off when not in use. Pupils also grow their own vegetables in the school's garden.

Head teacher Mark Clutsom is delighted at the success of the wind turbine and the other energy-saving measures that have been introduced at Upton Cross. He says, however, that true sustainability involves much more than switching off lights and is very proud of the way his pupils are leading the way in encouraging others to become more environmentally aware.

"Sustainability is part of a much wider agenda than simply ensuring public buildings are as cost effective as possible," he said. "While the installation of wind turbines and photo-voltaic panels help save energy and reduce bills, they are only part of the solution to the problems that we, and our children, are facing."

The new building for Penryn College has been designed to meet the latest environmental requirements, and incorporates a number of low-energy and renewable design features. These include wind turbines, solar panels and a biomass wood boiler system to provide heating and energy, light wells, passive ventilation and rain water harvesting for re-use in toilet systems.

A state-of-the-art building management system will use computers to monitor energy use and determine lighting and heating levels. "The whole building has been designed to be as energy efficient as possible," explained science teacher Andy Latham. "Some of our students are determined to go even further to reduce the school's carbon footprint, however, and have formed a committee to ensure we produce an eco-code for the new school site."

The grants are now two thirds allocated and so the most important thing to do is to apply for the low carbon grant as soon as possible. You are not penalised if you do not use it and you have a year to spend it. But if those in Cornwall and Devon do not make it their priority to apply for it now, there is a good chance they won't get it.