An exciting project called Dyfi Footprint run by the Centre of Alternative Technology and ecodyfi has helped school children in Machynlleth, Mid Wales to understand the importance of how their everyday lifestyle choices impact on the planet. Using the ecological footprint and REAP Petite as an awareness raising and educational tool the pilot project aimed to test whether or not a school can be used as a tool to engage with the whole community in making sustainable lifestyle choices an important part of everyday life.
About the project
The work was carried out with children at Machynlleth Primary School. Feedback from the Head teacher, the school inspectors, the class teacher, and other visitors indicated that the project was very effective in terms of delivering Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship, the curriculum subjects, and the skills framework.
The work in school demonstrated that a wider community can be engaged with effectively through the school. It succeeded in engaging people with the footprint agenda and raised their awareness about issues of sustainability, but it is difficult to assess whether it actually led to changes in behaviour.
Another key finding is that Eco Footprinting is an effective context setting education tool; pupils respond well to the visual imagery of the footprint. However, the project leader believes that other methodologies would have achieved effective results; for example basing it around ‘Zero Carbon Futures’ or ‘Sustainable Living’. At community level, the Footprint is only one amongst several tools; the way it is used may be more significant than the choice of tool.
REAP Petite proved to be useful for taking a more in depth look at an individual’s footprint, but we were only able to use it with green-minded individuals in this trial. Too few interviews were carried out to be sure of this, but we would tentatively suggest the following in relation to the use of REAP Petite:
Green and Independent Green – use only with care
Constrained Green, Long Term Restricted, Efficiency Focussed, Consumers with a Conscience and Basic Contributors – REAP Petite should be trialled further, specifically targeting these groups
Disconnected – use something else. The simple calculator is more suited to this group