Cornish schoolchildren in eco design challenge

One tool used is a carbon calculator to show students how green their schools are

Schoolchildren across the county are hoping to re-design their future.

More than 20 schools are participating in the Dott Eco Design Challenge.

The challenge asks pupils two questions: what is the size of their school's ecological footprint, and how could design make it smaller.

A group of students from Penryn College and Five Islands School from the Isles of Scilly have already determined their carbon footprints and have met to discuss what changes can be made.

A series of characters have been created to encourage a greener lifestyle

The challenge is being led by Dott Cornwall, a design initiative run in partnership with Cornwall Council, University College Falmouth and the Technology Strategy Board.

Students calculate their school's carbon footprint and then, using interactive software, will see what it looks like on a special website for the project.

One online tool the participants can use is a carbon calculator that, on an interactive map of a school, shows which aspects of the buildings are environmentally friendly or harmful.

They will then, with the help of professional designers, think of ideas to improve their school's carbon footprints. The best designs will win prizes that will help make them a reality.

A range of mentors have signed up to help the young eco-designers. One high-profile designer lending his wisdom is product designer Sebastian Conran. Local eco-warrior Dick Strawbridge is also involved in the project.

Students from Penryn School have already accessed their school and have decided waste, energy loss and food miles to the canteen are areas that could be improved.

They were joined by pupils from Five Islands School on Scilly to compare results from their research and learn from each others ideas.

A special Eco Day at Penryn College saw experts from Recycle Now, Surfers Against Sewage, Cornwall Transport for Schools, Leap Media and environmentalist author and diver Alan Maxstead talking to the students.

The guest speakers showed them how different aspects of their daily lives could affect their carbon footprint.

The design project that runs the challenge Dott (Designs Of The Time), wants as many secondary schools in the county as possible to get involved in the challenge.

You can find out more about the project by visiting the Eco Design Challenge website

Speaking about the project, Penryn College's sustainability coordinator, Andy Latham said: "We hope with the process we're going through that actually some of the ideas they come up with, will be put into practice and will actually reduce the carbon footprint we're producing."