Waste is a big problem. It uses up a lot of resources and energy and creates pollution in our land and waterways. We are also fast running out of suitable landfill sites to store our waste. Nobody wants to live near a tip! It’s smelly, attracts pests and contaminates our air, soil and water. In our school life we create lots of waste, particularly paper. Have you got ideas on what we can do to reduce waste? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at info@sustainablelivingtasmania.org.au. For other ideas see Setting up your classroom for reuse and recycling.pdf  more>

Reducing energy use is about switching things off like computers, heaters and lights and cutting down on how long you stay in the shower. Most energy in our homes and schools is produced by electricity or gas. By reducing energy, we can help to prevent the building of more power stations, reduce the use of our limited natural resources for the production of energy and also cut down our greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing global warming. Have you got ideas on what we can do to reduce energy use? If so, we’d love to hear from you – email us. For other ideas see Save energy around home and classroom.pdf more>

Biodiversity is the variety of all living things, including plants, animals, insects and micro-organisms and the way they connect to each other. By protecting biodiversity you will be helping to look after a wide variety of plants, animals and insects within your school environment and even beyond. You will be also helping to look after ecosystems, including things like soil and water, upon which all life depends. Part of protecting biodiversity is about looking after threatened species. Have you got ideas on what we can do to protect biodiversity? If so, we'd love to hear from you - email us. Start by doing an audit of your school grounds. more>

One of the best ways we can reduce our greenhouse gas pollution is by cutting back on the number of car trips we make. Cars produce a lot of carbon dioxide – about 27 kgs for every 100 kms travelled. If we can cut back the number of short trips we make in cars such as travelling to school and back, we can cut our greenhouse pollution by large amounts – up to half a tonne a year! Try to work out how many kilometres you travel in a car each week and work out some ways that you can reduce this. Check out the travel diary. more>

School gardening can range from setting up a native plant nursery, growing a butterfly and bee garden to growing vegetables for your school canteen or to take home. Through gardening, you can learn about the soil nutrients and the amount of water needed to grow plants. You will discover the many insects that live in a healthy garden.

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By reducing our water use in schools and looking after the quality of the water, we can help to ensure that our limited supplies of fresh water will be sustainable and will be available to replenish the soil, plants, insects and animals of the Earth as well as be available for human use.

Did you know that according to research conducted by Sydney Water, 44% of water in schools is wasted and that 22% of water used in schools goes down the toilet? What are some ways you can think of to reduce water wastage? Email us to let us know. How to do a Water Audit.pdf to reduce water use in your school.

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