Here is a selection of schools already going carbon neutral through the Planet Savers Process.
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Nigthcliff Primary School is one of the leading Energy Smart schools in the Northern Territory. Following a student assisted audit with the Planet Savers team, the students and staff are implementing a school-wide program to reduce energy in the areas of lighting, computers and appliances as well as a massive assault on the use of air conditioning. Students have identified a number of energy hungry operational activities at the school and are now working with the wider student body and community to engage Energy Smart behaviors.
Supported closely by the Department of Planning & Infrastructure, NPS and Planet Savers will also introduce a number of new technologies to the school to further aid their energy reduction targets. |
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 St Mary's Primary School is one of many schools in the Sandhurst Catholic Education dioceses that has strived to become a 5 star sustainable school. In 2008, as part of the Sandhurst Sustainable Schools project (AuSSI Vic) and Carbon Sink Schools, St Mary's students and staff made a considered effort to Get Energy Smart. Using simple approaches such as shut-down regimes, minimal use of lighting and careful use of heating and cooling, the school has made a 60% reduction in real terms.
With the arrival of the NSSP solar panel installation, students are confident that they will be able to get close to becoming a carbon neutral school by the end of the 2009.
School website www.smrglen.ceosand.catholic.edu.au |
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Thursday, 30 April 2009 22:44 |
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Croydon Hills Primary School (CHPS) commenced as a pilot school in the Sustainable Schools Initiative Victoria at the end of 2002, and by March 2005 had become the first school in Melbourne to achieve 5-star accreditation. CHPS has also been awarded the Resource Smart School of the year on two occasions.
Croydon Hills has been involved in many different sustainability activities. Mulch has been placed on gardens in order to conserve water.
Staff room and classroom composting has been implemented, and reverse rubbish for construction activities.
Heavier bins, with heavy lids have been installed in order to decrease litter.
Energy Smart activities include the engagement of student energy monitors, who have been given the responsibility of turning off lights.
Passive solar techniques are being used through the use of sun blinds on windows and tree planting, and established gardens have also created more shaded areas.
CHPS started work on becoming a carbon sink school in 2008.
A key feature of the program lies in student leadership, where a new team of Eco Captains has been appointed within Year 3. Interested students have to complete an application which outlines why they are interested in becoming an Eco Captain. Year 4 Eco-Mentors assist in the selection process and mentor new leaders in early Term One.
View presentation on Croydon Hills Primary School,
School website
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 Balnarring Primary School has undertaken many projects as part of their AuSSi Vic and sustainability journey. One of the most rewarding has been in the development of Balbirooroo Community Wetlands and its associated woodlands & ephemeral wetlands. This project has seen a huge increase in biodiversity on the site, including significant wetland bird species as well as protecting & expanding an area of remnant Swamp Paperbark - a threatened regional flora. Along with an opportunity to provide an active ‘hands-on’ curriculum resource for the students of the school, it has created a wonderful community-based project which has shown that we can make a difference.
Following BPS's excellent implementation of an Energy Smart program leading to a 25% reduction in total school energy use, the ongoing development/revegetation of the Balbirooroo site & school grounds
has led the school to seek formal accounting of the wetland as a bio sink.
To this purpose BPS is now looking to having the wetland registered as an operational 80 tonne carbon sink. This means that through curriculum and community activity, BPS is offsetting more carbon than they produce every year.
This is a school that Got Smart and Got Even!
School website: http://www.balnarringps.vic.edu.au/
Wetlands website: http://www.balnarringps.vic.edu.au/wetlands/index.htm |
The kids at Clyde Fenton have been having a great time assessing their school's energy usage. The student action team were particularly keen to find the school's hotspots using the infra-red thermometers. This has enabled the whole team to structure the school action plan to make huge savings on their electricity bill.
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Larapinta Primary School in N.T. has been one of the keenest schools to date in the Energy Smart Schools Program. The team with their new Planet Saving equipment have found many areas in which the school can improve its energy efficiency, and once all areas are addressed they will save quite a lot of money.
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Tennant Creek is the fifth largest town in the Northern Territory, however the Planet Saving kids there have been hitting well above their weight with regards to getting things done. The team have just completed their first audit and the results have pinpointed a great selection of ways they can make a difference. They have all decided to ensure that the changes are made in the next 6 months which will be great if they can pull it off...watch this space!
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Glenn Davidson Environmental Educator of the Year
Banksia Award Finalists
