|
KGS Environmental Sustainability
Thursday, 23 November 2023
|
|
Knox Grammar’s Strategic Direction 2023-27 identifies four areas of focus* including Stewardship, where the School aims to optimise and sustain resources through contemporary management of facilities and by implementing a plan aligned with the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. The Knox Environmental Sustainability Plan 2023-2030 outlines a roadmap towards best practice in the education sector. It defines commitments, targets and activities across seven key focus areas, each supporting the School’s Strategic Direction and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Achievements in the area of Environmental Sustainability to date include: 1. Reducing emissions & plastics: Introduction of Bio-cups for coffee in the canteen and staff rooms sees Knox directly offsetting two tonnes of carbon emissions and 288 kilos of regular plastic. These purchases see 5 per cent of profits from BioPak being given to sustainability charities and the planting of more than 20,679 trees in the Daintree. To date we have planted 62,037 trees. Food packaging and utensils have been replaced with biodegradable items, further reducing our carbon by another three tonnes and nearly 500 kilos of regular plastics. 2. Energy efficient lighting: 98 per cent of school lighting is now LED. This includes the lights on Knox 1. 3. Water efficiency: Catchment is undertaken and irrigated water used on all our sports fields (Gillespie Oval to be finished December 2023). 4. Transport: All Knox school buses will be electric by Term 4, 2024. 5. Renewable energy: 98 per cent complete towards solar panel installation. This will see Knox Senior and Knox Prep with combined system of 674 kW. 6. Recycled Paper: Moving towards 100% recycled paper in all our copiers and printers (at 95 per cent). 7. Air: Purification units are in every classroom and meeting space. *The four focus areas identified are Students’ Experiences, Staff, Community and Stewardship. View the KGS Environmental Sustainability Plan 2023-2030 Overview Photo credit: Rainforest Rescue |