Resource management

Most NSW schools use electricity generated by coal-fired power stations. Natural gas is often used to heat classrooms and in some areas, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) is also used for heating. Some schools use photo-voltaic solar cells to generate power or purchase 'Green Power'. Download the worksheet Keeping track of energy bills and investigating energy use to start to review energy use.

Environmental actions School stories Environmental facts How much does the school use? Keeping track of savings Raising awareness Energy events More links >

Students can develop many water management skills in schools that transfer to home and community, through identifying leaks and investigating new water saving technologies and systems.   Students can investigate water use at school by reading the water bill . Students can also learn how to conduct water surveys.  
Water Conservation Teaching Resource

Water actions School stories Environmental facts How much does the school use? Keeping track of savings Water audit tools Raising awareness Water events More links >

Schools generate waste in solid, liquid, or gas forms and even generate waste heat. Managing school waste begins with investigating the materials coming into the school, how the students and teachers use these materials, how much of the material after use can be re-used or recycled and the way we undertake these activities either on site or through someone else. Use the waste surveys for assistance and to keep track of waste.  

Some waste does leave the school, so how can we measure and minimise this and where does it go?

Waste actions School stories Environmental facts How much does the school use? Keeping track of savings Waste events Raising awareness More links >

Getting to and from school for students (and teachers) and going on excursions, has a transport impact on the environment primarily through emissions of pollutants including carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Conduct a transport survey.

School communities can manage transportation and emissions through investigating and developing new systems and programs of getting to school, utilising public transport systems for excursions, developing bicycle infrastructure at school and in the community with the support of the council.

Transport actions School stories Environmental facts What types of transport are used? Transport events Raising awareness More links >

When purchasing materials (and services), schools can reduce their environmental impact through some very simple choices, eg investigating recycled copy paper use and recycling. Student investigations focused on alternative materials, production cycles or re-use options can inform these choices. 

Environmentally friendly purchasing decisions can positively effect a school's waste and recycling systems. Conduct a consumption and purchasing survey . 

Purchasing actions School stories Environmental facts How much does the school use? Keeping track of savings Raising awareness More links >