eg magazine sustainability, resource efficiency & climate change

http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/00111-2010DOM-EN.pdf

The Zero Carbon Task Force was established in early 2008 by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, with a remit to advise on what needs to be done to reach the goal that all new school buildings will be zero carbon by 2016. In March 2009 the Carbon Task Force published an interim report, setting out initial findings and making a range of recommendations for action. A final report  has now been published, setting out what they have been doing, what steps are required, and what conditions are necessary in order to deliver zero carbon schools by 2016. Recommendations include: at least four pilot zero carbon schools should be operational in each government region before 2016, to demonstrate how zero carbon can be achieved and to provide learning for future projects; a series of step-changes towards zero carbon new schools should be introduced; processes should be introduced to ensure that energy and carbon are a priority from the inception through to the operation of school projects, and that the energy and carbon performance of schools is monitored and published.

While the brief focused primarily on new build schools, the report argues that addressing the use of and demand for energy in schools, supported where necessary by capital investment for refurbishment or retrofit measures, will have a far greater impact than a single focus on new build. The Task Force therefore further recommends that the Department for Children, Schools and Families should review the options for carbon savings that can be achieved through a programme of refurbishment and retrofit.