Spotlight on sustainability for NSW schools
Release date: 29 October 2018
Sustainability in NSW schools will take centre stage today with the NSW Government launching a new Environmental Design in Schools guide.
Education Minister Rob Stokes will release the new guide at the inaugural School Infrastructure NSW Sustainability Forum today, which will bring together the infrastructure, design and education sectors to discuss the importance of sustainability within schools.
“We have heard from principals and school communities that they are keen to make a difference and this new resource will offer ideas for making sustainable changes in the building or running of their school,” Mr Stokes said.
“Sustainable design is not only great for the environment, but can also improve teaching and learning outcomes and help frame the way that students think about the environment.
“Small changes to a school’s design and operations to make it more environmentally friendly can also drive down maintenance costs, so there’s a benefit to the bottom line too.”
Kiama High School, for example, estimates it has saved up to $2300 per month by improving its approach to sustainability.
The NSW Government Architect and School Infrastructure NSW partnered to develop the guide, which provides principals and school communities with a holistic understanding of environmental design.
NSW Acting Government Architect Olivia Hyde said the new guide would continue to underpin existing efforts to encourage good environmental design in new, existing and upgraded schools.
“Simple strategies such as opening windows on both sides of a classroom can improve comfort levels, by encouraging air flow and pushing hotter air outside. Outside we can provide trees to reduce playground temperature and also offer more shaded areas for student play and learning,” Ms Hyde said.
The launch of the new guide follows the NSW Government’s record $6 billion school building program over the next four years to deliver more than 170 new and upgraded schools to support communities throughout NSW. This is the largest investment into public school infrastructure by any state government in Australian history.
