The DCSF would like all schools to be sustainable schools by 2020, and to prepare young people for a lifetime of sustainable living. The DCSF has published a National Framework for Sustainable Schools to help schools understand what they need to do to achieve this aim. The National Framework comprises three interlocking parts: a commitment to care, an integrated whole-school approach and a selection of ‘doorways' or sustainability themes.

The DSCF has recently relaunched the Sustainable Schools website. There are practical resources and guidance for teachers, heads, bursars and governors. The inspiration these provide will help your school take its commitment to sustainability to the next level.

The Carbon Trust is launching a campaign encouraging schools to save energy and tackle climate change at the same time. It offers support for schools to help identify and implement the right energy-saving projects quickly and easily, possibly lowering energy bills by over 20 per cent. This includes:

• a free survey available to schools and colleges with energy bills in excess of £50,000
• interactive webinars providing expert advice on energy-saving opportunities
• online tools and schools-specific publications.

Salix Finance provides interest-free loans to public-sector bodies, including schools (which should apply through their LA), to invest in energy-saving products.

Procurement best practice seeks to make best-value purchases, taking into account whole-life costs such as the sourcing of materials, energy usage, waste output and disposal. In essence, good-value procurement does not squander any resources. This is also true of sustainable procurement. All purchases of goods, services and works should have an eye to the future - the environmental effects, and also the benefits to the community. Your Local Education Procurement Centre contact can provide you with guidance on incorporating sustainability considerations into your contracts. You can also download or order the leaflet ‘Top tips for sustainable purchasing in schools'.

DCSF is launching BuyWays, an online e-learning tool for schools users to improve understanding and delivery of procurement best practice. The BuyWays course includes guidance on sustainable procurement, in the context of wider issues affecting procurement. It emphasises that sustainable procurement should, by definition, be good procurement, since it seeks to make the most efficient and economical use of resources to improve schools' deliverables. BuyWays is free for anyone working in schools. Visit the BuyWays website to register.

School building programmes already set high standards for sustainable, energy-efficient schools and the DCSF want to raise the bar further. The DCSF has appointed a Zero Carbon Task Force to advise on achieving zero carbon new school buildings by 2016 and is also considering how to reduce carbon emissions in refurbishment projects.