Does your school make sure staff and pupils switch off lights and close doors and windows in empty rooms?

Are its classrooms and corridors fitted with low-energy light bulbs?

Is there someone who is always determined to turn the thermostat down by one notch?

These simple energy-conservation measures might not be spectacular but they could have a significant impact on the environment.

What’s more, people practising them could be eligible for an award.

The Green School Awards are open to primary and secondary schools across the South-East, and people are being urged to submit entries before the December 7 deadline.

They are organised by the KM Charity Team, and there are six categories: green travel and road safety; energy conservation; nature conservation; health and well-being; recycling; and air pollution.

Leading the drive for entries for the energy conversation category is Maidstone firm NCS Technology.

NCS director Mike Cardno said: “We work with a number of schools in Kent and Bexley, and for us it’s about adding value and saving them energy really.

“Part of our product range is LED lighting – we are looking at reducing schools’ carbon footprint. For us, that’s really important.”

Awards organiser Karen Brinkman of the KM Charity Team said: “These awards don’t have to be about dazzling or ‘beacon’ projects.

“If anything, the opposite is true: we want to hear from people who dim the lights in an attempt to protect the planet for future generations.

“So please don’t be put off from submitting entries because you don’t think your project is ambitious enough. What’s important to NCS Technology and the rest of the judges are projects that get children thinking about how simple, everyday activities have an impact on the wider environment.”

In addition to NCS Technology, the awards judges are Golding Vision, ADM Computing, Ashford International Hotel, EduKit, Loop CR, East Kent Recycling, Kidzania and Kent and Medway councils.

Learn more about the awards and submit nominations at www.greenschoolawards.co.uk.