ADVOCACY
Image credit: Sustainability Victoria
submission to the AEU schools for our future - a national inquiry into Australia’s public school infrastructure needs
Image credit: Sustainability Victoria
Image Credit: University of Western Sydney, Cool Schools Report
EEV’s key issues
School grounds provide amazing places to connect with and learn about nature
Equipment to monitor and investigate the local environment. Systems to share this equipment between schools to save costs and ensure a pool of up to date and innovative devices are available to students.
Use of renewable energy, and the opportunity for sharing excess energy with local communities.
Schools should be able to sell or store energy generated during summer holidays.
Consider schools as sites for community batteries, where schools are connected and can access energy during the day.
Spaces for outdoor learning and connecting with nature to manage stress and maintain wellbeing. School grounds should provide spaces for activities like nature journaling, observing insects and birds, monitoring growth of plants.
Opportunities to learn about local ecosystems and grow indigenous plants.
Shade will be critical - in many locations: play spaces, over equipment, building walls and windows, kiss and go and pick up zones, outside assemblies and more
Selecting materials and managing daytime temperatures is particularly important.
