The document discusses strategies for improving environmental sustainability in the Byron Region Community College's infrastructure and operations. It highlights the urgent need for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste production, and energy consumption in Australia, along with specific actionable measures such as enhancing energy efficiency, promoting recycling, and sourcing greener products. Additionally, it encourages collaboration, behavior change, and community engagement in creating a more sustainable future.

1. Welcome from
Katrina Shields & Richard Vinycomb
of Byron Region Community College

2.  Identify where environmental improvements
can be made in infrastructure & operations
through savings in:
energy, waste, water, travel &
transport, greener catering and using your
purchasing power.
 Reflect on what might work for you, share
change strategies and aspirations...
We encourage your participation..

3.  Australia has the highest greenhouse gasses
emissions per capita in the developed world.
 Our waste production is 2nd highest in the
world after the USA, with 690kg per year
being sent to landfill per person.
 Our power consumption per capita is four
times the average in the world...

4. Like all organisations and households our centres
have significant environmental impacts from their
buildings and operations:
 Physical building footprints
 Energy required to run normal operations
(and associated emissions)
 Consumption of resources (everything from
cars to copiers to paper clips!)
 Waste produced as a result of normal
operations

5.  Retro fitting small changes
? Govt rebates, sponsorship, donations
 Redesign big changes in buildings eg passive solar
design, green building
? Grants, rebates, pro bono design work
 Promoting behaviour changes in staff & students
? Incentives, professional development, awards, communications,
change in purchasing policies.
 Educating building users and raising community
awareness generally
? signs, posters, media stories, orientations

6. Consider:
Source renewable energy eg sign up
for green power.
Cutting consumption through:
 Lighting- installing power saving bulbs,
skylights, auto turn off devices or delamping..
 Air con used for cooling & heating – change thermostat
settings, turn off when out of room, provide more natural
ventilation, encourage dressing for the temperature, install
insulation..

7.  Equipment use – do you need all the
fridges, TV’s, printers etc?
 Standby power or “ghost load” – turning off at
the wall
 Using smart meters to give feedback on
consumption.
Myth Busting: “It’s better to leave
things on” Not true! Turning off
when out of the room for more than 10 seconds saves power.
It does not damage or wear out lights, fans etc.

8.  Providing Recycling systems- separation bins
 Organic waste collection & composting
 Reducing use of disposable products eg plastic
bags, water bottles, styrofoam cups
 Finding an E waste collection – what Do you do
with old equipment?

9.  Paper & stationary with high recycled content
 Toilet paper – recycled paper content
 Green cleaning products
 Refillable whiteboard pens
Could you develop a purchasing policy?

11.  Where do you source your products ? Can you
support locally owned & operated businesses
especially greener ones.
 Use greener products eg organics
 Fair trade tea & coffee
 Cut down on disposable products
 Provide a tea garden
 Reduce wastage

12.  Fixing leaks and wastages
 Installing low flush toilets, waterless urinals &
low flow taps
 Capturing rainfall with tanks
Any reuse possible eg grey water on gardens?

13.  Fleet cars - are they petrol guzzlers?
 Reducing need for travel- eg e-
conferencing, on-line learning
 Encouraging use of public transport eg
providing info
 Being bike friendly eg providing
racks, showers, reminder signs
 Encouraging car pooling

14.  What other benefits or advantages might
there be for you to make these sorts of
changes ?
 Who could help you with the greening up
process?

15.  How can you encourage behaviour change
and staff development around these issues?
 What has worked or might best work for you?
Any good news stories to share?

16.  What is stopping you from moving on this?
What do you need to get moving?
 What’s on your enviro wish list? What is your
vision for your centre in 5 years time?

17. www.greenbiz.com
www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus
/industryandsmallbusiness
www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_businesses
Queensland www.health.qld.gov.au/carbon_management/
Health Carbon green_office_guide.pdf
Management Unit
www.energyrating.gov.au/library/pubs/greenofficeguide.pdf

18. www.aashe.org/resources
Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability
www.acts.asn.au

19. Adult Learning Australia
 Greening your community courses (non VET)
programming & marketing
Thursday 28 July
 Greening your
partnerships, projects, advocacy and
networks
Thursday 30 August

20. Thanks for your participation from Katrina, Richard,
Patricia and Michael