Environmental Issues
Environmental Sustainability Strategy
The Department has devised an Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
The strategy aims to enhance efficiencies by:
- reducing total water and energy usage
- reducing total waste
- protecting, enhancing, restoring the native biodiversity (flora, fauna and habitat)
- reducing the volume of harmful emissions (e.g. greenhouse gas)
- improving the efficiency and effectiveness of transport systems
- improving corporate governance processes to support these changes.
In line with Victorian Government environmental sustainability policies, the Department has further refined its practice in relation to corporate operations and the delivery of student learning with the release of Looking Ahead – DEECD’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy (PDF - 1.1Mb). This flexible framework supports the reduction of environmental impacts, and integrates environmental sustainability into schools and corporate offices.
Environmentally sustainable design (ESD)
In matters related to ecologically sustainable planning and energy management, the Department is developing Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Guidelines (to be released in 2008), a companion to its Building Quality Standards Handbook. These establish a common approach for incorporating ESD into the design of Victorian schools. They place ESD outcomes for Departmental projects within a context of national best practice, and are linked to the Green Star – Education Tool developed by the Green Building Council of Australia. The Guidelines also establish performance measures for energy and water usage as well as waste disposal.
In addition to the Green Building Council of Australia and associated Building Commission, Sustainability Victoria also provides important information.
Energy-conscious building design leads to improved building operation, better staff performance and student learning, reduced operating costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
For further information, see:
- Building Quality Standards Handbook (PDF - 1.2Mb)
- Green Building Council of Australia
- Building Commision - Green Building Council of Australia
- Sustainability Victoria
Consumption and conservation
Energy Management
In line with the Government’s energy reduction targets, factors influencing the need for energy conservation and better management include
- the rising cost of electricity, gas and LPG
- rising energy usage in schools
- climate change (the “greenhouse” effect), and
- an increased awareness of ecologically sustainable design.
Information on energy usage and conservation in new buildings can be obtained from Sustainability Victoria
Lighting
Illumination levels must be appropriate to the tasks being performed. Schools should maximise natural lighting, install daylight or movement sensors, and switch off lighting not in use. Information about required lighting levels can be obtained from AS1680 Interior Lighting.
Heating and cooling
Heating facilities are supplied for all Victorian government schools, and a variety of systems are employed, depending on the type of building.
Cooling systems are provided to schools on the basis of their location within the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), Zones 20 and 27. All schools in these areas receive cooling to their entitled spaces under the space and area guidelines. Airconditioning is also provided to all specialist schools, and to metal relocatable buildings.
Office and other equipment
Schools must ensure that their office equipment is as energy efficient as possible, and that energy-saving options are available with respect to the purchase of new photocopiers, kilns, security lights, heaters and coolers.
Conservation
As part of the design stage in project planning, schools should investigate water conservation options. The Department’s Building Quality Standards Handbook also details minimum requirements in relation to internal and external services, to be considered at the design stage of project development.
Schools should enquire of their relevant water authority whether funding subsidies or water conservation support is available.
Sustainable schools program
Launched in 2003 and managed in Victoria by Gould Group and CERES, the Sustainable Schools Program. aims to make Victorian schools leaders in environmental practice by reducing waste, limiting energy and water consumption, and expanding biodiversity.
The Program is built around a core module – Schools Becoming Sustainable – and schools can choose all or some of an additional four units. These include:
- Waste Wise Schools (waste and litter minimisation and recycling)
- Energy Wise Schools (energy conservation, focus on renewable energy, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions)
- Water Ways for Schools (water conservation)
- Biodiversity in Schools (increasing biodiversity and improving the appearance of school grounds).
For more information, see: