Events students turn environmentalists for good cause

Wodonga TAFE’s students are doing their bit for the environment by becoming one of the first ‘sustainable classrooms’ on the Border.

The 16 Diploma of Events students participated in the experiment with the help of teacher and environmentalist, Steve Onley, who said “the students calculated their carbon footprint and then calculated how much offsetting they would need to do to make the six-week subject carbon neutral.”

During the experiment the class calculated the emissions from activities including driving to and from class, using computers and projectors, and lighting and cooling. The students learned that it would take 34 trees to offset the emissions that they created.

“They ended up planting 40 trees on the campus, each with an estimated 80-year life cycle…everyone enjoyed the sustainability project with many students integrating the practices at home and in the workplace,” said Mr. Onley.

This sustainability exercise paves the way for Wodonga TAFEs newest qualification. “We are pleased to be able to offer the new Diploma of Sustainability as a dual diploma qualification for current or past diploma students, in any study area or industry sector in 2011,” said Mr. Onley.

Wodonga TAFE is taking practical steps to become a sustainable campus. Some of the actions that have taken place so far include the following.

• Installation of 120 Photovoltaic cells producing 20.1kw/h.
• Solar lights installed in car park and around the campus.
• Retro-fitted all energy inefficient lights with energy efficient units in all buildings. Expected reduction of 60% in lighting electricity consumption. This equates to nearly 600 tonnes in reduction of greenhouse gasses.
• Lighting and electricity control has been installed where appropriate (toilets, zip boilers).
• Installation of weighing equipment for all recyclable waste.
• Water tanks to all buildings were plumbed to toilets, collecting 289,000 litres per annum.
• All toilets in the institute are flushed using rainwater. Estimated reduction in town water usage by 51%.
• Toilet cisterns were replaced in all buildings to reduce water usage from 15 litres per flush down to 6 litres.
• Water use and plan detailed in water map with North East Water.