Climate change is in the news again as the concern for the damage we may be doing to our planet increases. Recently it’s been reported that increases in temperature could bring mosquito-carried diseases to the UK, and that it could even affect the quality and taste of our food.
In an effort to raise awareness of climate change and encourage people to actively participate in green activities, the WWF began Earth Hour in 2007. Over 162 countries worldwide now participate in the event, which involves turning off lights for an hour. Prominent landmarks including the Sydney Opera House and Big Ben have taken part in the past, reaching the attention of millions worldwide.
This year Earth Hour is taking place on Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm. The charity are persuading people to take part in whatever fashion they like, be that turning off all electronics for an hour, or just non-essential lights. The move is inclusive and shows that everyone, even those new to Green activities, can take part. Earth Hour also has a number of other activities and actions anyone can participate in to raise awareness of, and participate in the change of climate change.
Here at NCFE, we’re keen to be Green and support activities intended to reduce strain on our environment. We’re participating in Green Hour by powering down our entire building at 8.30pm on Saturday night. We consider ourselves to be a Green organisation, with our own in-house Green Team dedicated to getting NCFE staff involved in any local environmental activities, and also sharing tips on how we can be Green in our day-to-day lives.
All of our documents, including our brochures and free learning resources, are available in an electronic format and if we must print, we do it on Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited paper. We’ve also updated our printer systems to prevent paper waste within our head office after finding out 45% of all printouts and photocopies within offices are binned within the day!
As we practice what we preach, we also have a number of Green qualifications. In September, we launched our STEM qualifications in Renewable Energy Engineering – not only are these substantial qualifications perfect for educating on renewable energies and globally conscious methods of working, but they also hold UCAS points and are designed to fit into the Study Programme for 16-19 learners.
We also have a shorter qualification in Renewable Energy Awareness that can fit alongside your existing programmes of study or curriculum. This qualification can be used as a stepping stone to our diplomas in Renewable Energy Engineering, ensuring your learners have a well-rounded education. The Renewable Energies sector is expected to provide quadruple the amount of current jobs in the industry by 2020 – your learners will be prepared to work in one of the most rapidly growing sectors with no signs of slowing down.
Will you be taking part in Earth Hour this year? Or are you already taking part in green activities? What does your centre do to reduce waste and carbon emissions? And do you think you could be doing any more?
