Environmental audits will be carried out in 70 Victorian Government schools across the Loddon Mallee and Grampians as part of a commitment to reduce energy use in all Government buildings by 20 per cent by 2018.
The $160 million Greener Government Buildings program started today with an environmental audit at Ballarat Secondary College’s Barkly Senior campus.
Premier John Brumby said there would be audits of 70 schools over the next three months.
“Together with communities, our Government is rising to the challenge of tackling climate change to lock-in a prosperous and sustainable future for Victorian families,” Mr Brumby said.
“The start of audits to reduce energy use in regional and rural schools is the first step to delivering our target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from government school buildings by 2018.
“These audits will identify how our schools can cut their day-to-day energy and water usage to help save the environment and reduce the cost of utility bills.”
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said capital works would be carried out at schools to install energy-efficient lights, solar panels and paint roofs with a reflective coating.
“These works will lower utility costs for schools, cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase comfort for students and teachers,” Ms Pike said.
“With 1555 Governments schools across Victoria, there is a lot our teachers and students can do to help tackle climate change.
“It will help drive a commitment set out in our Climate Change White Paper Action Plan to reduce Victoria’s overall emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 2000 levels.”
Government buildings that are large and medium energy users, including hospitals, will be evaluated under the Greener Government Buildings program by later next year.
“In July the Victorian Government released its climate change white paper, Taking Action for Victoria’s Future, which identified the state’s emissions reduction targets and ways to encourage investment in renewable and low-emissions energy,” Mr Brumby said.
“Our schools will help lead the way in meeting the 20 per cent target by 2018 and this will complement the teaching of sustainability that takes place in schools.
“Making our schools more environmentally sustainable provides a great learning opportunity for students, increases awareness of the need to conserve energy and the ways we can do this.”
