Although increasing biodiversity and creating habitats are an important focus at CWPS, we have also embedded sustainability into all our everyday processes involving our waste, water and energy usage. Our school has been awarded five stars through the ResourceSmart AuSSi Vic program which we completed last year.
Some our waste wise measures include:
- Organic waste goes to our compost, three worm farms, chooks or guinea pigs.
- Reycling of paper, cardboard, cartons, plastics, metal cans, glass etc.
- Every day focus on rubbish free lunches.
- Reduced use of photocopied material for our students due to our Inquiry Based program.
- School purchases in bulk, using less packaging.
- Canteen managers have redesigned menu to reduce packaging and to include recyclable wrappers. Students use reusable bags to order their lunches.
- The result of these measures and students' pride in their school is a litter free school yard.
Some of our water saving measures include:
- Harvesting water from our roof into our five tanks.
- Our toilets use water from one of our tanks.
- Waterless urinals
- Drought tolerant plantings, native plants.
- Mulching our gardens.
- Redesigning garden has resulted in less flooding and run off due to inclusion of porous surfaces in gardens.
- Installation of solar panels. Check out how much energy we are generating on the Sunskool site.
- Installing more windows allowing natural light into our learning studios.
- Energy Monitors to switch off lights and computers.
- Encouraging ride to school and walk to school days.
- Timer switches for staff hot water.
These bins plus a compost container are the only ones in our litter free school yard. Students take pride in their playground eating only in the central courtyard or in the classroom during time allocated for snacktime, lunch or munch and crunch time. Most of our students bring their food in containers to cut down on waste generated from school lunches.
This program provides a holistic approach to sustainability. It integrates educational, environmental, social and economic outcomes so that schools do not see each area in isolation but as components of the bigger picture of sustainability. It has been a great framework for us to work in.
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSi) is a nationally inspired program administered by DET Victoria and Ceres in Victoria, aimed at dramatically reducing water use, greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste output. Visit the Ceres Sustainability Hub to read about some of our school's projects.
