Eco School

• Electricity is sourced from renewable energy via hydro-power through the School's energy supplier
• St George's is accredited with Ecological Waste Management SuperDrecksKëscht® certificate for efforts in waste management:
  • Food waste is recycled and reused for biofuel
  • The School has an active recycling policy and management system for paper, card, plastic, food, batteries, electrical waste etc
• St George's supports initiatives for smart resourcing:
  • Thermal heating – Central heating switches off automatically in the admin building when windows are open to conserve energy
  • Paper usage – Weekly papercut reports are generated and monitored to track usage of paper and identify ways to reduce usage 
• The School has implemented an ongoing effort to source sustainable materials, for example products with a low carbon footprint or made from recyclable materials to promote closed loop and circular economy consumption.

Climate Clock: Countdown to 2030

School Climate Pledge

On 26th October 2021, St George’s International School Luxembourg committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as part of a School Climate Pledge. The pledge is part of the school’s decarbonisation plan and will help to broaden student understanding of emissions, climate change and how everyone can make a difference.    

St George’s Principal Dr Christian Barkei says the Climate Pledge aims to significantly reduce the school’s emissions with a goal of net zero. This will promote and support the EU 2030 Climate Target Plan and the Paris 2050 targets. 

The school plans to achieve its goal through projects to reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing school traffic, assisting with reforestation programmes, green procurement, weekly meat-free days in the canteen and more. 

“Everyone can make a difference – and these little daily differences in behaviour and consumption can be straightforward and simple, but they do add up to substantial and lasting change."  Dr Barkei, Principal

St George’s estimates that it generates an average of 600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year through school services. It forecasts that more than 100 tonnes of emissions can be avoided with planned projects over the next couple of years. For example, one meat-free day in the canteen can save 500kg of emissions. Choosing sustainable stationery can save 10kg per student per year and taking the bus or carpooling to school reduces emissions by 30 per cent per journey. 

• Ministry of Environment – Students from Years 8 to 10 coordinate eco-projects in Secondary school
• Eco-Council – Students from Years 3 to 6 coordinate eco-projects in Primary school
• Eco-Agent – Network eco-agents in each class from Years 3 to 10 support the Ministry of Environment and Eco-council eco-projects
• Recycling and Up-cycling Club – After-school club for students to upcycle items and learn the principals of recycling, how long things take to degrade and how to give new life to things
• Eco-Committee – students from Ministry of Environment and Eco-council attend this meeting twice a term and are supported by School Staff Management and the Board of Governors to discuss and monitor eco-projects