Environmental Sustainability
“Environmental sustainability involves making decisions and taking actions that are in the interests of protecting the natural world, with particular emphasis on preserving the capability of the environment to support human life.” (Environmental Sustainability, n.d.)
Business and consumers must make responsible decisions to reduce their negative impact on the environment to ensure that long term quality is achieved.
Orion Primary is undergoing a number of environmentally sustainable initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint on the environment whilst at the same time educating our students on the importance of the issue.
"Environmental efficiency strives to connect children to "the world outside the school," both natural and built. It lets them explore species and ecosystems, water, energy and resource use, the wonders of nature's works, and the workings of human enterprise." (Houghton, 2010)
As described, environmental sustainability has an important link to children's education and by involving them in our initiatives they will learn how a number of changes can achieve a less harmful impact to the surrounding environment.
By employing the initiatives as detailed in links to this page, Orion Primary is demonstrating an increased level of Social Responsibility and being accountable for our impact on the environment.
Evaluation of Strategies’
To determine Orion Primary’s level of success in pursuing these strategies to decrease our carbon impact, the Eco-Audit will be
used. This is an evaluation tool that will be undergone after all of the initiatives have been implemented.
The Eco-Audit is run by an organisation called Operation Energy and determines how successful a school has been at employing environmentally sustainable practices whilst also providing feedback on what other strategies could be implemented.
Orion Primary is currently working towards recognition of becoming a ‘green school’ and it is our mission to obtain the title of an
Environmentally Sustainable Organisation.
Join the Orion Innovation Committee
Are you interested in helping Orion Primary School to work towards a brighter, greener future? Why not join the Orion Innovation Committee, where you can make a difference to the lives of our children and their environment through innovation and sustainability. The purpose of this new committee is to identify and coordinate future environmental sustainability practices and projects for the school community, facilitating sub-groups to implement and manage these initiatives. Expressions of interest are invited from school staff, parents and other community members who wish to be involved in some great school and community activities. To find out more, contact Orion Primary School administration.
RESOURCES
Eco Team Competition. [n.d.]. Retrieved from the Operation Energy Website: http://www.operation-energy.com/index.php/kid-zone/downloads/cat_view/6-kids-zone/8-downloads
Environmental Sustainability. [n.d.]. Retrieved from the NSW Trade and Investment Website: http://toolkit.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/part/17/86/371
Gadotti, M. (2010). Reorienting Education Practices towards Sustainability. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development.
Retrieved from http://jsd.sagepub.com.ezproxy.ecu.edu.au/content/4/2/203.full.pdf+html
Houghton, E. (2010). Green School Hubs for a Transition to Sustainability. Our School, Our Selves, 19(4), 205-236, 240
Sand Dune Image. Retrieved October 2012, from http://www.nrm.gov.au/
Proposed Environmental Sustainability Initiatives
Pollution Control
Building Design
School and Community Garden
Water Conservation
Carbon Offset Scheme
Please feel free to prodive feedback on our proposed initiatives
Sign up to Join our Committee
Business and consumers must make responsible decisions to reduce their negative impact on the environment to ensure that long term quality is achieved.
Orion Primary is undergoing a number of environmentally sustainable initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint on the environment whilst at the same time educating our students on the importance of the issue.
"Environmental efficiency strives to connect children to "the world outside the school," both natural and built. It lets them explore species and ecosystems, water, energy and resource use, the wonders of nature's works, and the workings of human enterprise." (Houghton, 2010)
As described, environmental sustainability has an important link to children's education and by involving them in our initiatives they will learn how a number of changes can achieve a less harmful impact to the surrounding environment.
By employing the initiatives as detailed in links to this page, Orion Primary is demonstrating an increased level of Social Responsibility and being accountable for our impact on the environment.
Evaluation of Strategies’
To determine Orion Primary’s level of success in pursuing these strategies to decrease our carbon impact, the Eco-Audit will be
used. This is an evaluation tool that will be undergone after all of the initiatives have been implemented.
The Eco-Audit is run by an organisation called Operation Energy and determines how successful a school has been at employing environmentally sustainable practices whilst also providing feedback on what other strategies could be implemented.
Orion Primary is currently working towards recognition of becoming a ‘green school’ and it is our mission to obtain the title of an
Environmentally Sustainable Organisation.
Join the Orion Innovation Committee
Are you interested in helping Orion Primary School to work towards a brighter, greener future? Why not join the Orion Innovation Committee, where you can make a difference to the lives of our children and their environment through innovation and sustainability. The purpose of this new committee is to identify and coordinate future environmental sustainability practices and projects for the school community, facilitating sub-groups to implement and manage these initiatives. Expressions of interest are invited from school staff, parents and other community members who wish to be involved in some great school and community activities. To find out more, contact Orion Primary School administration.
RESOURCES
Eco Team Competition. [n.d.]. Retrieved from the Operation Energy Website: http://www.operation-energy.com/index.php/kid-zone/downloads/cat_view/6-kids-zone/8-downloads
Environmental Sustainability. [n.d.]. Retrieved from the NSW Trade and Investment Website: http://toolkit.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/part/17/86/371
Gadotti, M. (2010). Reorienting Education Practices towards Sustainability. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development.
Retrieved from http://jsd.sagepub.com.ezproxy.ecu.edu.au/content/4/2/203.full.pdf+html
Houghton, E. (2010). Green School Hubs for a Transition to Sustainability. Our School, Our Selves, 19(4), 205-236, 240
Sand Dune Image. Retrieved October 2012, from http://www.nrm.gov.au/
Proposed Environmental Sustainability Initiatives
Pollution Control
Building Design
School and Community Garden
Water Conservation
Carbon Offset Scheme
Please feel free to prodive feedback on our proposed initiatives
Sign up to Join our Committee