By Zero Emissions Noosa
St. Therese’s Catholic College, Good Shepherd Lutheran College in Noosaville and St Andrew’s Anglican College in Peregian Springs are three more of the schools attended by Noosa students that have come on board to join the Race to Zero Program.
“As many young people are really concerned about the effects of climate change and as schools are large energy users, learning how to reduce their energy use at school is a really useful way for them to actively reducing their emissions and the effects of climate change”, said Dalia Mikail, the Zero Emissions Noosa Race to Zero Project Coordinator.
Thanks to Noosa Council funding, schools receive free installation of energy meters and access to the school’s real time energy data for use in the classroom through the Race to Zero program. St. Therese’s and St Andrew’s students join a large group of other schools in the Noosa area that are using the Solar Schools website and resources to explore real energy data as part of their maths and science curriculum. This helps them to see how they can change their behaviour, and reduce their energy use. This reduces their school’s emissions and its impact on their local environment.
Schools can also use the gamified Planet Watch APP to access their data. Each school is represented as a planet in the solar system and the health of their planet is dependent on the real time energy decisions you they make in the classroom.
If your school is yet to get on board, contact Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. and our Project Officer can show students and teachers how to use this valuable real life energy data in the classroom. The program is led by ZEN Inc., with joint funding by the Department of Education and a Noosa Council Environment Grant. Schools in the Noosa Shire are invited to join free of charge. Contact info@zeroemissionsnoosa.com.au for more information or visit www.zeroemissionsnoosa.com.au
FOOTNOTE: Next Tuesday 26 October ZEN is combining with the Peregian Beach Community Association in an innovative public event. Well-known sustainability advocate Joe Shlegeris will be quizzed in a lunchtime Q&A session on ‘Zero emissions: pipe dream or possibility’. The public is invited to bring along a paper-bag lunch … and questions. Joe will draw on his personal experience with innovative technologies, including transporation. In the wake of the IPCC climate report and on the eve of the Glasgow climate conference, this meeting could not be more timely. Peregian Beach Community House, 12.30-1.45. RSVP is essential to peregiancommunity@gmail.com.
