Welcome to the downloadable workbook
This workbook is to help you to collect the information you will need to enter into the online calculator to calculate
your ecological and greenhouse gas footprints.
This workbook has six tabs: energy, transport, waste, water, food and buildings. These tabs appear at the foot of this
worksheet and are the same as the units in the teacher’s handbook and the sections in the online calculator.
Saving the workbook
Each pupil should save the workbook to their own computer. Make sure they include today’s date when they give it a
name. It’s important to date it because when you come to use the calculator again next year, you will save a new
version and you will be able to compare how things have changed.
The teacher should save a ‘master’ version.
As with any file you can save it half way through working on it, and return to it next lesson.
Collecting information using the workbook
Click on the appropriate tab at the bottom of the screen. Each tab contains clear instructions of how to get started.
Don't worry that it looks a bit complicated at first sight - given 5 minutes you will see exactly how it works.
Always double check that you are working on the correct table (i.e. the school one or the personal one).
Enter the data your collect in the white boxes and the totals in the light blue boxes - this is the info you will need to
enter when you move onto the online calculator.
The tables have clear columns marked, and instructions of how to do the calculations. There are no formulae but if
you want to teach your pupils how to use formulae within Excel, this spreadsheet would be an ideal way to do so.
Transferring information to the online calculator
Transfer the information you have entered in the blue boxes to the appropriate section of the online calculator.
Creating an action plan
The ideas for some of the actions you could take to reduce your footprint are given on each tab. Each action is
followed by a set of questions which will help you form an action plan. These questions are the ones that EcoSchools recommend as the basis for action plans. You can copy and paste this section of each tab into a new
document and use it for your Eco-Schools folder.
ENERGY
Your School Energy Footprint
A
Start off by finding out how much electricity, gas and
biomass/oil (if applicable) your school uses each year.
You can do this by looking at the last four bills (each one
will cover three months) and adding the amounts used
together. Use this info to fill in column A.
B
Kilowatt hours
(kWh) of energy
used per year
Total
Number of pupils in kWh of energy per pupil per year (col
the school
A ÷ col B)
Your Personal Energy Footprint
A
B
Total
Start off by finding out how much electricity, gas and oil (if
applicable) your house uses each year. You can do this by
looking at the last four bills (each one will cover three
months) and adding the amounts used together. Use this info
to fill in column A.
Kilowatt hours
(kWh) of energy
used per year
Number of people
in the household
kWh of energy per person per year
Electricity
(col A ÷ col B)
Electricity
Gas
Gas
Biomass (1 kg of wood pellets equals 4.8 kWh and 1kg of
wood chips equals 3.5 KWh)
Biomass (1 kg of wood pellets equals 4.8 kWh and 1kg of
wood chips equals 3.5 KWh)
Oil (Note: 1 litre of oil equals 11.8 KWh)
Oil (Note: 1 litre of oil equals 11.8 KWh)
These are the figures you will be
asked to enter in the online
calculator
These are the figures you will be
asked to enter in the online
calculator
Energy Action Plan (the columns reflect
the action plan template recommended
by Eco-Schools)
Potential action
Does your school use any sources of renewable energy?
Are hot taps free of drips?
Are hot water taps and pipes properly insulated?
Does the water heat up quickly when the tap is turned
on?
Is the water comfortably hot and, apart from kitchens and
cleaners' rooms, no hotter than 43°C?
Are windows and doors free from draughts?
Are there well fitting curtains or blinds at the windows?
Are the curtains or blinds closed at night?
Do all outside doors close automatically?
Are windows and doors closed during cold weather?
Are rooms carpeted to insulate solid floors and reduce
draughts?
Are shelves fitted above radiators to deflect warm air into
the room?
Are reflector panels fitted behind the radiators?
Is there space around the radiator or hot air grill for good
circulation?
Are overhead projectors, computer monitors,
photocopiers, televisions and videos turned off when not
in use?
Do computer networks automatically switch to standby
when not used?
Who's in charge?
When will it be done by?
How can we monitor it?
How will we know when we're
successful?
How much will it cost?
Did it work? Any ideas for the future?
TRANSPORT
Your School Transport Footprint
A
B
Start by asking every pupil in your class, or school, to
keep a transport diary for a week, recording what types of
Total kilometres
Kilometres
transport they use to get to and from school and how
travelled per class,
travelled per
Number of pupils in
many kilometres they travel each week on each type of
or school, per
school year of 40
class, or school
transport. Add together the total kilometres the class, or
week
weeks (col A x 40)
school, travels by each type of transport each week. Use
this info to fill in column A.
Your Personal Transport
Footprint
Total
C
Kilometres travelled per pupil per
year (col B ÷ col C)
Air travel (applicable for pupils who live on islands)
Start by working out how many kilometres it is
between your home and your school (one way
only). Keep a diary for a week, recording
which type of transport you use to get to and
from school.
Kilometres from
your house to
school
Type of transport
a.m (Bus, train,
bicycle,
motorbike, car or
walking)
Type of transport
p.m. (Bus, train,
bicycle,
motorbike, car or
walking)
Monday
Walking
Tuesday
Bicycle
Wednesday
Private hire bus
Thursday
Car
Friday
These are the figures and transport types you will be
asked to enter in the online calculator
Motorcycle/moped
Van/lorry
Other private (minibus etc)
Local bus
Taxi/minicab
Ferry
These are the figures you will be
asked to enter in the online
calculator
Transport Action Plan (the columns
reflect the action plan template
recommended by Eco-Schools)
Potential action
Do staff and pupils mostly walk, cycle or take the bus to
school?
Do most cars bring two or more people to school?
Does the school have dry, secure cycle storage?
Does the school provide cycle instruction for pupils?
If yes, does the cycle instruction include on-road training?
Is there a network of safe routes to the school?
If you have school vehicles, do they run on unleaded
petrol, LPG or diesel?
Does the school provide information on school travel
policy and arrangements in its prospectus to new
families?
Does the school hold regular walk and cycle to school
events?
Who's in charge?
When will it be done by?
How can we monitor it?
How will we know when we're successful?
How much will it cost?
Did it work? Any ideas for the future?
WASTE
Your School Waste Footprint
A
B
C
Total
Start by weighing how much of these different types of
Kg of Waste per
waste is generated by your class, or school, over the
Kg of waste per Kg of waste per Number of pupils
pupil per year (col B
course of a week. Use this info to fill in column A. You
class, or school, school year of 40
in class, or
don't have to work on all the types of waste, just work on
per week
wks (col A x 40)
school
÷ col C)
what you can.
The calculator will ask you for these percentages. If you
can't get this info from the Council's waste officer, use
the Scottish averages given below.
Your Personal Waste
Footprint
A
B
C
% sent for recycling/composting (Scottish av. 38%)
Start by counting how many large black
bin bags of rubbish your household
throws out each week. On average,
each one weighs 10Kg. Use this info to
fill in column A.
Kg of waste per
week
Kg of waste per
year (col A x 52)
Number of
people in house
Total
Kg of waste per
person per year
(col B ÷ col C)
Office paper
Mixed paper
This is the figure
you will be asked
to enter in the
online calculator
Cardboard
Cans
Plastics
Glass
Aluminium foil
Organic waste
Electronic waste
Residual waste (i.e. anything else)
These are the
figures you will be
asked to enter in the
online calculator
Waste Action Plan (the columns reflect
the action plan template recommended
by Eco-Schools)
Potential action
Does the school buy recycled goods wherever possible?
Is office paper saved for recycling?
Are envelopes opened carefully for reuse?
Is paper used on both sides before recycling?
Are photocopies always double sided?
Are letters sent home using siblings list?
Does the school have email addresses for families?
Are copies of documents kept on disk rather than on
paper?
Is scrap paper turned into useful notepads?
Do school lunches avoid throw away materials?
Does the school host or use recycling facilities?
Does the school have compost bins?
Are the compost bins regularly added to, turned and
used?
Who's in charge?
When will it be done by?
How can we monitor it?
How will we know when we're
successful?
How much will it cost?
Did it work? Any ideas for the
future?
The calculator will ask you for these percentages. If you
can't get this info from the Council's waste officer, use
the Scottish averages given below.
% sent for recycling (Scottish av. 29%)
WATER
Your School Water Footprint
A
B
C
D
Total
E
Start by explaining to the pupils that the water meter
Litres of water
Week 1 meter
Week 2 meter
Litres of water
measures how many litres of water have flown through it.
per school year Number of pupils Litres of water per pupil per year
reading - Monday reading - Monday per week (col B Organise the pupils to take readings on two consecutive
of 40 wks (col C
in school
(col D ÷ col E)
morning 10am
morning 10am
col A)
Monday mornings. Use this info to fill in columns A and B.
x 40)
This is the figure you will be
asked to enter in the online
calculator
Water Action Plan (the columns reflect
the action plan template recommended
by Eco-Schools)
Potential action
Is water pressure enough but not too much?
Are timed operation taps installed?
Are low volume spray taps installed (in soft water areas)?
Have automatic urinal flush controls been fitted?
Have low flush volume toilets been installed?
If not have water hippos (bags that reduce the amount of
water flushed been installed?)
Does the school regularly read the water meter?
Is rainwater collected for watering plants?
Is rainwater diverted from the roof to top up the school
pond or wetland?
Who's in charge?
When will it be done by?
How can we monitor it?
How will we know when we're
successful?
How much will it cost?
Did it work? Any ideas for the
future?
FOOD
Your School Food Footprint
A
Start off by finding how much of each food stuff your
school canteen uses each week for lunches, snacks and
drinks. Also find out if foods are local and/or organic. You
will need to find out what different food is made up of, for
example 1 kg of chips = 800g potatoes and 200g vegetable
oil. Use this info to fill in column A.
Kg of this food
used per week
B
C
Total
This information helps work out your food
footprint because the distance food
travels and how it is produced impacts
on its footprint.
Kg of this food
Kg of this food
Mostly local? (i.e.
used per school Number of pupils in used per pupil per grown or reared in
year of 40 wks (col
school
year (col B ÷ col Scotland) (Yes or
A x 40)
No)
C)
Organic? (i.e. less
negative impact on
environment) (Yes
or No)
Your Personal Food Footprint
Start off by keeping a food diary of your
meals at home. Write down whether they
included just vegetables, fish and
vegetables or meat, fish and vegetables.
Confectionery
Types of food eaten at home on this Organic? (i.e. less negative impact on Mostly local? (i.e. grown or reared
day
environment) (Yes or No)
in Scotland) (Yes or No)
Monday
Soft drinks
Tuesday
Miscellaneous
Wednesday
Beverages
Thursday
Cereal products
Friday
Bread
Saturday
Fruit
Sunday
You will be asked to use this information to complete the drag and drop questions in the online calculator.
Vegetables
Sugars and preserves
Fats and oils
Eggs
Fish
Meat
Cheese
Milk and cream
These are the
figures you will be
asked to enter in
the online
calculator
Food Action Plan (the columns reflect
the action plan template recommended
by Eco-Schools)
Potential action
Does your school purchase local food?
Is organic food available in the school?
Do you learn about nutrition for a healthier and more
sustainable diet at school?
Does your school try and have food that is in season on the
menu?
Do you grow any of your own food?
Are you able to organise a visit to a local producer who
supplies your school with meat or vegetables?
Does your school cook meals fron scratch wherever
possible?
Does your school minimize waste by careful portions,
menu choices and planning?
Can the food waste be composted?
Has your school run a 'finish your food' campaign?
If your food is brought in, can you campaign for it to be
local, seasonal and organic?
Who's in charge?
When will it be done by?
How can we monitor it?
How will we know when we're successful?
How much will it cost?
Did it work? Any ideas for the future?
BUILDINGS
Your School Buildings Footprint
Start by measuring how many square metres of floor
space there are in your school. You can do this either by
actually measuring the size of the school, or by using
plans of the school. Make sure you include each floor if it
is multi storey. Use this info to fill in column A.
A
B
Square metres of
Number of pupils in
floor space in the
the school
school
Total
Square metres of floor space per
pupil (col A ÷ col B)
This is the figure you will be asked to
enter in the online calculator
Buildings Action Plan (the columns
reflect the action plan template
recommended by Eco-Schools)
Potential action
Is there an opportunity to influence how a part of the
school will be built or rebuilt?
Can pupils and visitors to the school tell that the school
cares about other living things and the environment from
the outside?
Have the school grounds been developed for their
biological potential. Can more be done?
Is there a local site accessible to the school for it to
‘adopt’ to monitor and manage for the long term?
Who's in charge?
When will it be done by?
How can we monitor it?
How will we know when we're
successful?
How much will it cost?
Did it work? Any ideas for the future?