IT'S RUBBISH - but it helped one of Glasgow's most popular museums win a top award.

Families taking part in activities aimed at encouraging them to reduce, reuse and recycle junk have helped Scotland Street School triumph in the National Green Tourism Business Awards (NGTB)

As the Evening Times Streets Ahead campaign continues to pick up pace, we're delighted to see one of the city's most popular attractions do its bit to improve the environment.

Supported by our partners - Clean Glasgow, City Charitable Trust, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and ScotRail - Streets Ahead encourages everyone to improve their local area for the benefit of all.

Scotland Street is the first Glasgow Life building to achieve a silver award, having worked hard to improve its green credentials since picking up a bronze title three years ago.

Led by Energy Champion - and now a Streets Ahead Street Champion too - Catherine Cross, the team at museum faced a gruelling assessment process covering areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more.

Catherine explained: "When I first took on the role of Energy Champion I was a bit overawed by the task but I soon realise there were things that could be done quickly that would have a significant effect on our energy use.

"Staff responded magnificently and had lots of great ideas, such as the Switch Off for Scotland Street initiative, which included turning off all lights and displays when the public were not in the building."

Catherine added: "That resulted in a 25% saving on electricity bill, which was fantastic."

The team also created a Green Room, in which visitors could learn more about the museum's eco practices and suggest more ways to save energy.

Catherine explained: "Visitors wrote tips on leaves which were hung on our Green Tree, for others to see and use."

The Green Room got a special mention in the NGTB awards as an "outstanding new aspect of the museum experience" along with praise of Scotland Street's "excellent creative family activities" and promotion of public transport.

Glasgow Life chairman, Councillor Archie Graham, welcomed the award.

He said: "It is wonderful news that Scotland Street School Museum has become the first Glasgow Life venue to be awarded the prestigious Silver Award through the NGTB awards.

"This is a fantastic achievement, made possible by the hard work of the museum's Green Team and Energy Champions.

"Staff made substantial energy savings by undertaking a programme of replacing every light bulb, which reduced energy consumption by more than 80%. Given the success of this initiative, we intend to roll out the Switch Off campaign throughout all the museums in Glasgow.

"But I think the area where the team really excelled was by bringing visitors to Scotland Street into the quest to save energy.

"The Green Room is an outstanding new concept, it's a space designed to engage and educate both staff and the wider public on ways to reduce energy use

"Throughout the October week school holidays there are a number of free, family, drop-in craft workshops that encourage everyone to look at how different household items can be recycled. Everyone is welcome to join us. And I wish the museum every success as it works toward securing their Gold Award."

Family workshops on how to recycle junk take place at Scotland Street School Museum during the October school week. Visit www.glasgowmuseums.com or call the museum on 0141 287 0500.

For more information on Streets Ahead, the Evening Times campaign which encourages everyone to improve their streets, parks, gardens and communities, visit www.eveningtimes.co.uk

ann.fotheringham@ eveningtimes.co.uk