Annual Report 2005 NSW Department of Education and Training

To assist schools in implementing sustainable
purchasing practices, the Environmentally Friendly
Purchasing in Schools Program was developed in
conjunction with the NSW Department of Environment
and Conservation. Pilot workshops were conducted
for School Administrative and Support (SAS) staff
from 38 schools in three regions. A professional
learning program for SAS staff was developed and
implemented in June 2005.
TAFE NSW Institutes have continued to pursue
WRAPP objectives through their business planning
and implementation. TAFE NSW environment officers
continued to develop and conduct programs with
teachers, staff and students to reduce Institute waste
streams and implement practices of purchasing
recycled materials.
The Department continues to progressively implement
initiatives to reduce the generation of waste through:
• Purchase of digital photocopiers for duplex printing
to reduce paper consumption
• Use of email and the provision of electronic forms
and manuals on the Department’s Internet and
Intranet
• Collection of paper, cardboard and other materials
for recycling
• Schools focus on activities such as recycling and
composting food and vegetable waste, using
compost bins and worm farms
• Provision of environmental awareness courses
by TAFE NSW for people in the workforce and
community
• Provision of training courses for teachers and
school communities through 23 Environmental
Education Centres.
Resource recovery
The Department of Education and Training and the
NSW Department of Commerce implemented waste
minimisation strategies particularly in relation to capital
works programs. Strategies included:
• Recycling and diverting surplus excavated or
demolition materials from land fill
• Separating the collections of bulk waste types
• Monitoring of waste materials by the NSW
Department of Commerce.
It is estimated that in 2004-05 over 75% of the
vegetation, construction and demolition materials
generated was recycled.
Using recycled material
Of the 156,000 reams of A4 white paper supplied
to the Department by the major contract suppliers
of office products, 57% was recycled paper.
Some improvements were made in the quantity of
remanufactured or refilled toner/ink cartridges being
purchased. It is estimated that 17% of toner cartridges
purchased had recycled content.
Appendix 17: Government Energy
Management Policy
Introduction
The Department of Education and Training has
continuously undertaken energy efficient operations
which are in line with the NSW Government Energy
Management Policy (GEMP). This policy encourages
voluntary commitment by public sector agencies
to apply energy efficiency strategies and programs
to achieve and sustain reduced greenhouse gas
emissions. The policy also significantly reduces energy
costs in a coordinated and comprehensive manner
across all areas of operation.
The Department reports calendar year energy
consumption data to the Department of Energy,
Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS) in the year
following. The data in this report therefore refer to data
provided for the 2004 calendar year.
Energy supply and management
The Department continues to lead in the area
of ‘green energy’ generation and purchase. A
high level of sustainable energy use is achieved
through the onsite generation of electricity via solar
(photovoltaic) systems and the purchase of electricity
from renewable sources. The combined electricity
consumption from these renewable sources is
approximately 17,321 MWh per year, which equates to
an estimated reduction of 16,715 tonne of greenhouse
gasses being released into the atmosphere.
The number of facilities purchasing 6% ‘green
electricity’ (generated from renewable energy
sources such as solar or wind), has continued to
grow over 2005. More than 1,600 schools, 130
TAFE NSW facilities and all major administration
centres now purchase electricity through the NSW
State Procurement electricity supply contract which
incorporates the green component in all purchases.
In a joint venture between the DEUS, Integral Energy
and the Department, phase four of the ‘Solar in
Schools’ was carried out over 2005. The majority of
funding for the project was sourced from DEUS and
Integral Energy. The program saw the installation of 27
solar systems in schools throughout the State, bringing
the total of education facilities with solar systems to
124. By lowering demand for mains supply electricity,
the energy generated from these systems avoids
the annual release of an estimated 253 tonnes of
greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
Performance
As the provision of effective teaching and learning
environments can in some areas involve increased
use of air cooling and Information and Communication
Technology (ICT), the Department has had to
balance these requirements with the task of achieving
reductions in line with GEMP goals. Despite the
challenge, a reduction in overall energy consumption
Appendices
NSW Department of Education and Training - Annual Report 2005 106