The government has spelt out its plans for an 80% reduction in carbon emissions in schools in three years time - with the expectancy of gradually achieving zero emissions.
The reduction target, which will be measured against 2002 levels, has been increased from the current 60% target.
As part of the plan at least four pilot zero-carbon schools will be built in each government region before 2016 in order to demonstrate how zero carbon can be achieved.
Schools secretary Ed Balls announced the new targets simultaneously with the launch of the final report of the Zero Carbon Task Force (ZCTF), established by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) in 2008.
The ZCTF report, Road To Zero Carbon, examines how the carbon footprint of English schools can be reduced.
Balls said that the government has accepted the ZCTF's recommendations and plans to take them forward with the caveat that this is subject to funding in the next comprehensive spending review.
Schools emit approximately 9.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, which is about 2% of the total UK greenhouse gases and is 15% of the public sector emissions according to the ZCTF.
Buildings account for 37% of the total emitted by schools. However, the ZCTF report points out that the three- to four-year construction cycles for schools are too long to allow the technical, financial and social challenges to be overcome if zero carbon schools are to be delivered across the board by 2016.
It says that in some circumstances zero carbon schools are achievable, such as in rural settings where renewable energy is accessible and in urban areas where low carbon community energy schemes can be tapped.
The ZCTF's brief was to focus on new build schools. However it points out that new build is just part of the picture and among the 30 recommendations in its report says that the DCSF should review the potential of a programme of "refurbishment and retrofit".
Carbon emissions generally decrease by 5% to 20% and sometimes more as a result of refurbishment, even when energy saving is not a stated objective.
Modelling suggests that savings of 53% to70% can be achieved by "whole school energy efficiency refurbishments" but the report says that this is optimistic.
ZCTF says that 50% to 65% reductions in carbon emissions from English schools could be achieved at a cost of about £12bn, although this "assumes optimum occupant behaviour which will require additional measures" according to the report.
Ed Balls also announced a £12m campaign to get schools in England to install free energy display meters. The DCSF says that smart meters and wider behavioural changes could cut fuel bills by 10% to 15% which could mean as much as £3,000 a year to a 900-pupil secondary school.
