Increased energy efficiency and reduced reliance on fossil fuels are both essential if people are to have any chance of avoiding escalating energy prices and the grim reality of catastrophic climate change. By increasing the diversity of energy sources people can also achieve increased security, reducing their dependence on imports. As government-funded organisations and education providers, schools naturally need to be setting a good example, generating renewable energy and modelling excellent practice to future generations. This obligation is formally set out in the National Framework for Sustainable Schools, which states that by 2020 all schools are to have minimised their carbon emissions, becoming exemplars of energy efficiency and renewable energy, utilising wind, solar, biofuel and other appropriate energy sources. It is apparent that in order to participate fully in society, both today and in the future, knowledge and understanding of the environmental impacts of energy consumption and renewable energy solutions are essential. In this article, the author describes how schools can plan for the future by working with "green energy" companies and their resources. (Contains 2 figures and 2 online resources.)