St. James Catholic High School

5 May 2010

The e-Squad

 

e-Squad member
showing location of
solar panels

St. James is a mixed comprehensive school in North London. It has an active environment club - the e-Squad - led by science co-ordinator, Janet Keir.

Thanks to the e-Squad, the school have a great recycling scheme; grow their own vegetables; and have installed solar panels and a wind turbine.

We thought if we are going to start recycling and get involved in the environment, then why don't we really get involved and so we started all our other projects...

e-squad member

In 2006, building started on a straw bale conference centre.

Planning

The objective was to create a sustainable eco-room for use by the school and community, containing:

• a weather station
• a 24-hour wildlife web-cam. 

Lots of people have been involved:

• science students
• the e-Squad
• parents
• teachers.

The e-squad help lay the floor

The school was advised by the UK Strawbale Building Association.

The straw bale building

Advantages of straw bale building:

• uses a cheap, waste product - very low environmental impact
• very good insulating material
• don't have to be an expert to construct with it.

Work started in the summer when straw is cheaper.  Windows have been added, the walls have been rendered and the roof is finished.

Schools are seen as pillars of the community and by doing environmental projects they shine out a light to [the whole] community.

Nimish Lad, Trainee teacher on why other schools should get involved.

Find out more about St James Catholic High School >