Four Sustainability Trends Highlighted at EduTECH

Sustainability in schools is more important than ever before. With the rise of environmental, society and governance (ESG) standards in higher education and changing student and staff expectations, educational leaders and their facilities teams are looking to technological advancements when integrating their buildings into a sustainability strategy.

At EduTECH I sat down with Matt Jones, Director at Mamachi; Tim Rowler, Director of Business and Finance at Ruyton Girl’s School; and Jessica Stryker, Facilities and Operations Manager at Camberwell Grammar School to discuss sustainability challenges and opportunities in the built environment.  

Here are four trends we discussed:

1.     Young Australians are leading environmental activism.– With environmental education integrated into the Australian curriculum, students learn the importance of these topics from an early age. According to a study conducted by Our World, Our Say, 80% of young Australians are concerned about climate change and want to see action. Many Australian youth are committed advocates for climate change.

2.    A school’s building sustainability journey is not a one-size-fits all – There are many factors that influence a building’s sustainability strategy. A building’s age, size, budget and assets must be considered when investing in new building technologies to improve sustainability efforts. It’s also important to consider how schools are updating their spaces to reflect a new age of learning post-COVID.

3.    Better data supports insightful decision making. – Just like a test assesses a student’s knowledge, an energy audit can help identify opportunities to help manage a school’s energy use and carbon impact. Establishing an energy baseline and using data to understand performance can help a facility team focus on critical issues and identify upgrades that may not require infrastructure changes. Otherwise, you can’t change what you don’t measure and monitor.

4.    New technologies may help reduce operational costs. – The more schools understand their energy usage and carbon impact – down to the building asset level – the better they can drive potential cost savings. Implementing energy efficient technologies like LED lighting and high efficiency HVAC systems can help manage energy consumption. That’s a positive for the environment and the school. Advanced software controls can further optimize systems based on occupancy and environmental conditions.

There’s a big opportunity for Australian schools to lessen their carbon impact while creating an inviting and engaging learning environment. Let’s work together to take that next step for future generations of learners.

Stefanie Oakes
Pacific general manager, Services