Page 3016 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 June 2012
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(1) In relation to the Government’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality across all ACT schools, can the Minister advise how data on schools’ mitigation achievements are recorded and provide a copy of this information.
(2) If the information referred to in part (1) does not exist, are there plans to record it.
(3) What proportion of ACT schools are currently undertaking steps to reduce their emissions.
(4) What is the cost of the emission reductions achieved in ACT schools to date.
(5) Has an assessment of the costs of achieving carbon neutrality across ACT schools been undertaken; if so, can you please provide a copy of this information.
(6) Has any progress been made in the negotiations that were underway to include non-government schools within the carbon neutral schools target.
Dr Bourke: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1) Data on ACT public schools energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions over the two year period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2011 is presented in the Education and Training Directorate’s 2010-11 Annual Report (pp 167-168) and across the 2006 07 to 2009 10 years in the Directorate’s 2009 10 Annual Report (pp141-142).
Data on energy consumption and greenhouse emissions will again be presented for ACT public schools in the Education and Training Directorate’s 2011-12 Annual Report.
2) See (1) above.
3) With the exception of the new schools opened in 2011 (Gungahlin College and Namadgi School) and 2012 (Harrison Secondary School), all ACT public schools have received an energy audit and report. These reports provide details on energy consumption and provide recommendations to the schools on measures to improve energy efficiency.
In addition, during the 2010-11 year, the Education and Training Directorate undertook a lighting audit at all ACT public schools to identify the schools and locations where less efficient lights were installed. Lighting in refurbished areas of schools is upgraded to energy efficient fittings as part of the standard program of capital upgrades.
All schools are registered under the Australian Sustainable School’s Initiative (AuSSI). Seventy seven of these schools are working on the AuSSI ACT Energy Best Practice Guide to reduce energy usage, including 71 ACT public schools.
In addition, there were specific measures undertaken or planned by the Education and Training Directorate to improve or offset energy consumption across ACT public schools including the design of new school to achieve a 5 Green Star, the on-going installation of photovoltaic systems which offset energy, and the rollout of Data Collection Storage and Visualisation systems.
4) The cost of energy efficiency measures and their energy performance over the lifetime of the school cannot be separated from the total construction or refurbishment works at ACT public schools.
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