Local schools ACT-ing smart to save the environment

Released 21/09/2016

Maribyrnong Primary and Hawker Primary were today announced as the winners of the inaugural Actsmart ACT Primary Schools Carbon Challenge held last month.

“The inaugural Schools Carbon Challenge was a great success with almost 1600 people participating during August, collectively saving 2290 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This is the equivalent to taking 7633 cars off the road for a month,” Director-General of the Environment and Planning Directorate, Ms Dorte Ekelund, announced today.

“Our younger generation here in Canberra is great at saving emissions when at school through the skills they learn through the Actsmart Schools program. This challenge helps transfers these skills to the home to help the environment and save on household energy bills by making some simple changes.”

The winning schools of the challenge were:

• Maribyrnong Primary School – saving the most emissions from student households with 374 tonnes saved;
• Hawker Primary School – with the most student households signed up to their school team, with 59% of student households participating.

Ms Ekelund said challenges included hanging out the washing, turning down the heater and growing herbs and vegies from seeds. In addition, participants were encouraged to complete more challenges to increase their emission savings, like Laundry Load Up which is all about having a full load of clothes and washing in cold water.

“Family members have reported an increase in the engagement by children at home in assisting to turn down the heater and hang out the washing, providing a link for future generations to understand the importance of a sustainable lifestyle,” Ms Ekelund said.

“Well done to all 22 schools who signed up to the challenge, I look forward to seeing the program expand in the coming years to include all of our local school children,” Ms Ekelund said.

For more information on what you can do to save emissions at home, work or at school and save money visit www.actsmart.act.gov.au

- Statement ends -

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