Back to school: energy saving tips

As the new school year begins there's a lot to think about - travel plans, stationery, uniforms, new morning and homework routines and more.

With all this on your mind it's easy to lose track of saving energy - so we've put together some no-nonsense tips to help you and your family stay green this year.

• School run energy saving
• Low-waste lunches
• Uniform exchanges and recycling
• Computer energy awareness
• Stationery recycling

School run energy saving

Nearly a quarter of our car journeys are less than 2 miles[1] - and these are the least efficient because the car engine is cold, using more fuel and creating more CO2. Try a low energy alternative to your school run.

• Walk one day a week - a 2-mile car journey is a 30 minute walk. Even one day of walking a week is good for the environment - and your kids' health.
• Get your kids cycling - for older kids, cycling to school means more fun and more freedom, as well as giving them some exercise and a useful skill. Make sure they have a new, well-fitting helmet.
• Use public transport - if your child lives more than 3 miles from school (or 2 miles for under-8s) they'll qualify for free public transport. If not, public transport may still be cheaper than petrol - and it's almost certainly greener.
• Share the driving - if it's too far to walk or cycle, arrange to share the school run with other local parents. It saves on petrol and gives you a free morning several days a week.
• Use a minibus scheme - many councils loan out minibuses or rent them at cheap rates to community groups. Contact your local council to see if you have a school minibus scheme, or if you could help set one up.

Low-waste lunches

The plastic wrappers, bottles and packets in most lunchboxes go straight into landfill. Cutting lunchtime waste teaches your kids good green habits.

• Reduce packaging waste by avoiding multipacks of drink or snacks. Instead, make your children lunchbox-sized portions of food and drink in reusable sandwich bags, flasks, and boxes.
• Reuse leftovers from the night before as a tasty lunch that makes a change from sandwiches.
• Recyclewaste packaging at home or at school. If your children's school doesn't recycle, helping to set up a scheme is a great way to get involved.

There are lots of other things you can do to reduce waste and recycle - view our tips on reducing waste here.

Uniform exchanges

Making new clothes uses a lot of energy and water, and buying second hand items of school uniform from the school is a great way of reducing this impact. Most schools have regular uniform sales, often at summer and Christmas fetes. Make sure you donate your kids' old uniforms too - and you can even pick up a larger size for a growing child.

Computer energy awareness

By secondary school, many kids are doing homework on a computer. Make sure they know to switch the computer and the monitor off standby when they've finished.

Stationery recycling

New stationery is a back to school tradition, but it can mean a lot of waste. Try some ways around it:

• buy recycled - pens, rulers, folders and more can be made from recycled materials. And don't forget to choose recycled paper.
• have a green clear-out - make sure last year's unwanted notes end up in the recycling, not in the bin.

[1] DFT, Public transport statistics bulletin GB 2006; Transport and statistics bulletin SB (06)29, London: DFT

Find out more

• Find a local lift sharing website
• Safe cycling for kids
• Cutting food waste- hints and tips