Sustainable Schools Initiative
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) is a partnership between the Australian Government and states and territories to help schools achieve a sustainable future. In the ACT, AuSSI is managed by the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate (ESDD) and is supported by the Directorate and non-government schools. AuSSI is now being implemented in all 128 ACT schools.
The partnership previously developed between ESDD and the Directorate to conduct water audits and provide water efficiency reports to all ACT public schools was continued this reporting year with nine public schools receiving a water audit in 2011-12, bringing the total to 75 schools. Each of these schools received a report recommending water saving initiatives based on the audit findings.
During 2010-11, the sustainability handbook 'What is a Sustainable School?' and Sustainability Action Kit were distributed to ACT schools. During 2011-12, AuSSI ACT conducted a professional development workshop to support the introduction of the handbook and Kit.
The Directorate and AuSSI ACT also continued to work together during 2011-12 to provide all ACT public schools with assistance to reduce energy consumption and to accredit schools that demonstrated the sustainable management of energy.
Water consumption
Water consumption across all ACT public schools in 2011-12 totalled 291,222 kilolitres which was an increase of 3.3 percent. Water consumption data for the three years from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2012 is graphed in Figure C19.1. Water reduction measures implemented by the Directorate are discussed in Section C20.
Figure C19.1: Water consumption in public schools, 2009-10 to 2011-12
Source: Schools Capital Works Branch
Energy consumption
All ACT public schools have received an energy audit. The energy audits established baseline energy performance data and identified recommendations to improve the efficiency of each school and provided schools with an analysis of electricity consumption and site specific recommendations on how to reduce the consumption.
The whole of government electricity supply contract increased the amount of green power purchased to 37.5 percent by ACT agencies including ACT public schools in 2011-12. This was an increase from 32.5 percent in 2010-11.
Electricity consumption across all schools was steady, showing a slight increase of 1.7 percent. However, gas consumption increased by almost 8.3 percent compared with 2010-11. This resulted in an overall increase in energy consumption by 3.9 percent. This increase was due to the opening of new schools and new facilities under the Building the Education Revolution and ACT Government capital works programs during 2011-12. Despite the overall increase in energy consumption by schools, the higher proportion of green power energy resulted in a decrease of greenhouse gas emissions of 1,152 tonnes, which is a decrease of 3.9 percent.
In addition, the results of the lighting audit undertaken in 2010-11 continued to identify those schools and locations where less efficient light fittings were installed. Reducing energy consumption was an ongoing issue for schools and to this end lighting in all refurbished areas in ACT public schools continued to be upgraded to energy efficient fittings as part of the standard program of capital upgrades.
Electricity and gas consumption are graphed in Figure C19.2 for three years from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2012. For further energy reduction measures refer to Section C20.
Figure C19.2: Energy consumption in public schools, 2009-10 to 2011-12
Source: Schools Capital Works Branch
Office-based sustainability
The information on a range of sustainability indicators for 2010-11 and 2011-12 from four central office sites (Braddon, Stirling, Fyshwick and Higgins) is given in Table C19.1. It does not include non-office (school) data.
The information in Table C19.1 was calculated using data provided by ActewAGL, Territory and Municipal Services Directorate, SITA Environmental Solutions, Sgfleet, Recall, Thiess Services, Cleanaway, JJ Richards Waste Services, Able Organic Recycling and Office Max. The details for office greenhouse gas emissions and transport gas emissions were calculated with the assistance of ESDD.
The Directorate participated in the Smart Office recycling program from 1 July 2011 to increase the levels of recycling at its primary central office site (220 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon). The program will increase the accuracy of measuring paper recycling levels.
The Directorate is working with ESDD to develop its Resource Management Plan. The plan provides a basis for monitoring and evaluating resource efficiency measures against specific targets in relation to management of water, electricity, gas and transport fuel consumption, waste production and recycling, and greenhouse gas emissions. This will support the Directorate's compliance with the ACT Government's climate change strategy Weathering the Change to reduce emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels.
Table C19.1: Information on office-based sustainability indicators, 2010-11 and 2011-12
Indicator | Unit | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
Occupancy - Staff | FTE | 337 | 334a |
Area office space - Net lettable area | Square metres | 7,808 | 6,600a |
Stationary energy | |||
Total electricity use (including renewable) | Kilowatt hours | 1,296,406 | 1,192,674b |
Renewable energy use (Greenpower & EDL land fill gases) | Kilowatt hours | 173,896 | 437,185c |
Percentage of renewable energy used | Percentage | 13.4 | 36.7 |
Natural gas use | Megajoules | 2,719,796 | 2,941,076 |
Total energy use | Megajoules | 7,386,858 | 7,234,710 |
Intensities | |||
Energy use per FTE | Megajoules | 21,919.46 | 21,660.81 |
Energy use per square metre | Megajoules | 946.06 | 1,096.17 |
Transport | |||
Total number of vehicles | Number | 24 | 19d |
Total vehicle kilometres travelled | Kilometres | 301,657 | 198,721d |
Transport fuel (Petrol) | Kilolitres | 21.49 | 8.64d |
Transport fuel (Diesel) | Kilolitres | 2.59 | 8.34d |
Transport fuel (LPG) | Kilolitres | 0 | 0 |
Transport fuel (CNG) | Kilolitres | 0 | 0 |
Total transport energy use | Gigajoules | 834.97 | 617.41d,h |
Water | |||
Water use | Kilolitres | 7,254 | 2,961e |
Intensities | |||
Water use per FTE | Kilolitres | 21.53 | 8.87 |
Water use per square metre | Kilolitres | 0.93 | 0.45 |
Resource efficiency and waste | |||
Reams of paper purchased | Number | 8,259 | 8,152 |
Recycled content of paper purchased | Percentage | 98 | 51f |
Estimate of general waste | Litres | 690,000 | 675,000 |
Estimate of co-mingled material recycled | Litres | 1,500 | 36,300g |
Estimate of paper recycledd | Litres | 224,400 | 239,520 |
Estimate of organic material recycledd | Litres | Not available | 313 |
Greenhouse gas emissions | |||
Total stationary energy greenhouse gas emissions (All scopes) | Tonnes CO2-e | 1,378.57 | 977.68h |
Total transport greenhouse gas emissions (All scopes) | Tonnes CO2-e | 63 | 46h |
Intensities | |||
Greenhouse gas emissions per FTE | Tonnes CO2-e | 4.09 | 2.93 |
Greenhouse gas emissions per square metre | Tonnes CO2-e | 0.18 | 0.15 |
Transport greenhouse gas emissions per FTE | Tonnes CO2-e | 0.19 | 0.14 |
Source: Finance and Corporate Support Branch
Notes:
a. The results for the 'general' elements are based on the three central office sites at 220 Northbourne Avenue in Braddon, the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning in Stirling and Higgins Primary School. The net lettable area figures are lower than last reported due to no central office staff being located at Higgins Primary School or Fyshwick Annex.
b. The results for the environment elements are based on the four central office sites at 220 Northbourne Avenue in Braddon, Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning in Stirling, the former Higgins Primary School and the Fyshwick Annex.
c. The results for the 'renewable energy use' are significantly higher than 2010-11 due to more comprehensive reporting in the renewable energy area required by ESDD.
d. The results for the 'transport' elements are based on the central office sites which lease/operate Government vehicles. The reduction in 'transport fuel (petrol)' is due to the Directorate leasing more fuel efficient diesel vehicles.
e. The results for the 'water' element are significantly lower than 2010-11 due to there being no major water/plumbing issues during 2011-12.
f. Variation represents a change in methodology.
g. The results for the 'estimate of comingled material recycled (based on bins collected)' is significantly higher than 2010-11 due to the increase in comingled recycling for 220 Northbourne Avenue in Braddon after this site became an ACT Smart Office accredited recycler in 2012.
h. Calculated with information entered into OSCAR.
School-based sustainability
The information on a range of sustainability indicators for 2010-11 and 2011-12 for ACT public schools is given in Table C19.2
Table C19.2: Information on school-based sustainability indicators, 2010-11 and 2011-12
Indicator | Unit | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
Occupancy – Students and staff a | FTE | 40,804 | 41,883 |
Area school space | Square metres | 561,356 | 571,259 |
Stationary energy | |||
Total electricity use (including renewable) | Kilowatt hours | 29,495,974 | 29,007,835 |
Renewable energy use (Greenpower) b | Kilowatt hours | 9,586,192 | 10,877,938 |
Percentage of renewable energy used | Percentage | 32.5 | 37.5 |
Natural gas use | Megajoules | 134,465,411 | 145,673,636 |
Total energy use | Megajoules | 240,650,917 | 250,101,842 |
Intensities | |||
Energy use per FTE | Megajoules | 5,898 | 5,971 |
Energy use per square metre | Megajoules | 429 | 438 |
Water | |||
Water use | Kilolitres | 281,871 | 291,222 |
Intensities | |||
Water use per FTE | Kilolitres | 6.91 | 6.95 |
Water use per square metre | Kilolitres | 0.50 | 0.51 |
Greenhouse gas emissions | |||
Total stationary energy greenhouse gas emissions (all scopes) | Tonnes CO2-e | 29,916 | 28,764 |
Intensities | |||
Greenhouse gas emissions per FTE | Tonnes CO2- e | 0.73 | 0.69 |
Greenhouse gas emissions per square metre | Tonnes CO2- e | 0.05 | 0.05 |
Source: Finance and Corporate Support Branch and Schools Capital Works Branch
Notes:
a. Figures from February census of students and staff in schools. Preschool students taken as 0.5 FTE.
b. Percentage of Greenpower from whole of government electricity supply contract.
For more information contact:
Director
Schools Capital Works
(02) 6205 3173