Energy in London

5 May 2010

Helen Rimmer from Brent Friends of the Earth dropped in on two schools during this year's Shout about activity week.

It's really valuable involving young people in solutions to climate change. They are bursting with energy and creative ideas.

Step by step

Would you walk more if the streets were cleaner?

Pupils at Emanuel School in Battersea would.

They think the council should clean-up the streets to encourage more people to walk.

All this talking about walking came from their shock at the size of the UK's carbon footprint compared with other countries.

Pupils understand how unfair it is that countries who contribute the least to climate change will suffer the worst effects.

Helen Rimmer, Brent Friends of the Earth

Great green ideas

Sustainability was the theme at Alperton Community School in Brent.

Pupils came up with great ideas for greening the school, including:

• Saving water by using rain water for cleaning.
• Wasting less food by donating excess to local homeless shelters.
• Generating energy by using energy bikes at break times.

Wind power and solar panels were also discussed. And the school has great plans to create wildlife-friendly meadow and woodland areas.

We could even have chickens lay eggs for breakfast club!

Shout about the experience

Geography teacher, Ofelia Lopez signs up for Shout about every year.

It's up-to-date and full of new ideas. The kids love it and it doesn't just raise awareness but gives them a way to get involved.

Read other Shout about stories  >

Check out the winners of our photo competition >

Download the Shout about pack >