14 July 2010

Schools set green standard
SHEFFIELD'S schools are getting right behind the fourth Sheffield Telegraph Environment Awards, sponsored by E.ON.

The search for the green champions of 2010 is now under way and, if previous years are anything to go by, the efforts of young people in the city to make a difference will be some of the most inspirational around.

Steve Byers, Sheffield City Counc
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il's Eco Management and Audit Co-ordinator, contacted the Telegraph this week and said he would be getting in touch with all of the city's Eco Schools and encouraging them to take part.

He said: "The awards are a great thing for Sheffield. They are just what a local newspaper should be about.

"From a schools point of view it is something special for the students to get recognition for what they are doing to protect the environment and the same thing applies away from education.

"Anything that encourages more people to get on board has to be a good thing, so we will be delighted to get in touch with all our schools and ask them to get involved.''

In 2004 Sheffield did not have a single Eco School, an international initiative. It currently boasts 114 schools registered on the scheme, with 76 holding the Bronze Award or above and 13 holding the coveted top award, the Green Flag.

The Sheffield programme is also attracting national interest. Last month the council was invited to the National Eco-Schools Conference in Peterborough to talk about its work to encourage schools and their communities to become Eco-Schools.

Almost 70 pupils and adults from a wide range of Sheffield's Eco-Schools attended the conference where they ran a large interactive stand.

Mr Byers will also be involved in judging this year's schools entries.
Last year's winners of the Senior School category, Sheffield High School, have this year decided to give their backing to the event by sponsoring the Community category.

Sixth form students from the school will soon be working with children from junior schools around the city to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Following their Telegraph win last year, High School students have written and illustrated their own children's book, The Adventures of Eco-Man. This highlights the ways in which younger children can play their part in using resources in a sustainable and responsible way.
The High School, which recently gained the Green Flag Award under the Eco-Schools scheme, hope that this will be a fun way to spread the ideas and initiatives that have been so successful in the school in recent years.

Among our other category sponsors for 2010 are AESSEAL (Senior School), Homeco Energy (Primary School), Stagecoach (Innovation) and Green ASAP (Individual).

World-renowned mechanical seal specialist AESSEAL says: "AESSEAL pursues excellence in everything it does. A key element of our excellence programme is the protection of the environment.
"A mechanical seal stops leakage of potentially harmful liquids and gases from rotating equipment such as pumps into the environment and also reduces the usage of water, which is rapidly becoming one of the world's scarcest resources.

"In the Business in the Community Yorkshire and Humber Environmental Index AESSEAL is accredited as a Climate Change Champion. Due to our commitment to the environment we are delighted to continue to sponsor the Sheffield Telegraph Environment Awards."

Homeco Energy, which specialises in harnessing solar power, says: "Homeco Energy recognises that children have a large part to play in helping the UK to reduce its carbon emissions. By looking to teach children the benefits of recycling, energy consumption and looking after our environment we are looking to encourage a change in mentality that will be of benefit to ourselves, our children and all future generations.

"Homeco Energy is proud to sponsor this section and help reward those schools who are promoting the idea of a greener, more sustainable future for everyone.''

E.ON are the main sponsors of the awards, which will be held at Sheffield's Mercure St Paul's Hotel on Wednesday, October 20.

We are looking for individuals, schools, community groups and businesses who have made a difference over the last 12 months.
The last three years have produced some outstanding stories of people and organisations who genuinely want to do all they can to protect the environment we live in and we are confident that 2010 will be no different.

The level of response and the quality of entries has increased each year and the event, which will again be hosted by BBC Look North weatherman and environment correspondent Paul Hudson, is now firmly established on Sheffield's environmental calendar.

Our awards will honour outstanding efforts and achievements, good building and design, sustainability innovations and improvements.
Small or large-scale projects will be judged equally.

We hope the awards will again raise awareness of the need for better environmental performance by business and industry and promote the environmental efforts of those involved in sustainable consumption and production, resource efficiency, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water.

The winners will feature in a special supplement in the Telegraph, as well as on our website.

Last year's big winners were Sheffield Enviroment Weeks, which won the Lifetime Achievement Award and went on to claim the overall prize in recognition of their 25th anniversary. Other winners included Rivelin Valley Conservation Group, Brunswick Primary School, Westfield Sport College, Sheffield High School, Bag It Don't Bin It, Danny Piermattei, St Vincent's Furniture Store and AC Liani Ltd.

Once again there are nine categories to choose from. The overall award will then be selected from the nine winners. The categories are:

lIndividual
lBusiness
lCommunity
lInnovation
lBuilding & Design
lRecycling
lPrimary School
lSenior School
lLifetime Achievement
lOverall

The entry form is printed alongside this article and will appear in the Telegraph each week. Applications can also be made by downloading the form at www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk

Whether you want to nominate yourself, your organisation or school, or anyone else you think is worthy of an award, select your category, fill in the form and send it, along with as much supporting evidence as possible, to Environment Awards, Sheffield Telegraph, York Street, Sheffield S1 1PU. The closing date for entries is September 19.
lAny business or organisation interested in sponsoring one of the remaining categories should conact Carolyn Rawlings on 0114 2767676 (ext 3288) or email carolynrawlings@sheffieldnewspapers.co.uk

Norfolk Park School receiving their Green Flag award last year from Coun Shaffaq Mohammed

Dobcroft Infant teachers Colette Waters and Orlaith Shipley with children on the interactive stand at the conference in Peterborough

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