Lots of large companies talk about carbon offsetting by investing money into environmental organisations that may plant trees or do something else to offset their carbon footprint.

We have decided to take a different approach. We have decided to invest 1% of our sales turnover into the local education system. By taking this approach we feel that we may be able to assist in educating young people in environmental matters. We are interested in working with a selection of local schools that will be involved in raising the awareness of environmental issues.

Last year Go Green Car and Van Rental worked with the local schools in the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich.

Out of 50 schools 6 were short listed by judges from Cheshire County Council, Reaseheath College and Go Green Car and Van Rental. Each of the 6 schools were invited to the awards evening at Reaseheath College which was held on the 19th March 2008 where the presentation of two cheques for £3000 each was made by the Lady Mayoress of Crewe and Nantwich. to the two winning schools see www.cheshire.gov.uk/environment/gogreen.htm

Bridgemere’s ‘Greenbeings Challenge’ took the primary category after their idea for encouraging more thoughtful use of everyday items caught the judges’ eye. The school plans to send each of its 74 pupils home with a household object such as a plug, peg or plastic bag and families will concentrate on saving energy around that item. A barometer will record the amount of energy saved.

The idea was the brainchild of parent Debbie Fitzsimons and quickly adopted by pupils who sit on a school council.

Said Head Teacher Jane Dickinson: “We felt this was a simple idea which could be rolled out to the whole of our community. We are absolutely over the moon to have been chosen as winners. The money will allow us to expand the scheme.”

In the secondary school category, Ruskin Sports and Languages College took the honours with its waste reduction and recycling project. The college has reduced its general waste collection from seven to four bins weekly since increasing its efforts to recycle paper and plastic. The local community are encouraged to use recycling facilities on site.

The 700-pupil college intends to invest its prize money in long lasting steel bins which will enable it to expand its project.

Said Finance Officer Hazel Richardson: “The pupils have really taken the idea of recycling to heart. We have a very active eco council and members want to tackle all aspects of waste, from energy consumption to litter.”

Other finalists were Pear Tree Primary School, Stapeley; Gainsborough Primary School, Crewe; Sir William Stanier Community School, Crewe and Sir Thomas More Catholic High School, Crewe.

The evening was rounded off with a talk given on Climate Change and Global Warming by the guest speaker Peter Wognum form Green Action www.greenaction.biz

2008/2009 AWARDS

In September 2008 we will be rolling out the Go Green Environmental Awards again. This year the opportunity will be open to all the schools in the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich and will also include the Borough of Congleton to reflect the new council changes. In addition we will also include all the schools in Whitchurch, Shropshire and Stoke on Trent. This is to reflect the opening of two new Go Green offices in Whitchurch and Hanley.

For more information and an application form please e mail crewe@greenrental.co.uk

Click here to download the Go Green Innovations Awards application form