Pymble has a long standing commitment to sustainably managing the facilities and grounds of the campus and engaging the students in this endeavour and this commitment is clearly stated in the College's current strategic intent document, Towards Pymble 2020. The College has a clear focus to reduce our carbon footprint and manage our resources sustainably – energy, water, waste and biodiversity - and has recently implemented a number of sustainability initiatives including:
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels - a 60kW system has been installed on the roof of the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA) and went live in February 2012. This is an expansion on an existing 16kW system which was installed in 2011. Click here to view more information on this project.
The College estimates that the system will produce approximately 86,403 kW hours p.a., reduce GHG emissions by 91,588 kg of CO2 p.a.. This equates to permanently removing 73 small cars from the road or enough energy to power 25 households per annum.
Energy Audit - a comprehensive Level 2 energy audit has been undertaken and the College has already implemented a number of the suggested initiatives including:
- Upgrading existing fluorescent and halogen lighting to energy efficient LED lighting
- Occupancy sensors to automate the control of lighting
- Timers on air conditioning units and hot water systems
- Request buttons on split system air conditioners
More energy efficiency upgrades are planned for the near future. Total energy savings identified in the energy audit amount to a reduction in electricity consumption of 31% and a reduction in natural gas consumption of 49%.
Focus on Paper Reduction - there is scope to reduce the significant volume of paper that the College uses each year. To address our current use, the following initiatives have been introduced:
- A paper pyramid of 204 boxes was constructed to represent the amount of paper the College uses in a month. Students and staff were encouraged to view this very visual representation of a great ‘sustainability opportunity’
- All multi-function printing devices across the College now require staff and students to release their print jobs using an ID card, thus reducing the amount of unnecessary and unwanted print jobs
- Parents are provided with online forms where practical.
Water Management - new water tanks were recently installed near the Conde Library which service all the gardens around Marden Lawn and the library itself. A report was also commissioned on all other water recycling opportunities across the campus and efficiencies will be explored during the coming months.
Waste Management
- Paper recycling bins have been installed in all offices, staffrooms and common areas
- All used metal products are now being harvested and removed off campus by our waste contractor for recycling
- Food waste ‘Bio Bins’ have been implemented in the Senior School Centre by the Student Representative Council (SRC) and are being used by the Property Department for their compost
- ‘Reusable’ coffee mugs are available in the food and beverage outlets onsite.
Other sustainability initiatives
Pymble Ladies' College is also conducting the following sustainability initiatives:
- developing a corporate emissions inventory to benchmark and reduce our carbon footprint
- participates in initiatives such as Earth Hour, National Tree Day and Clean Up Australia Day
- recycle food from the Kitchen - scraps are used to feed the animals in our Agriculture Plot
- implemented ‘Lunch Box Fridays’, Enviro Kids and a Gardening Club in the Junior School
- uses Fuji Xerox multi-function devices where 98% of the machine is made from recycled materials
- distributes payslips to employees electronically
- sells second hand textbooks from the Bookroom
- I.T department recycles laptops and hardware at the end of their life; recycles used toner cartridges; has set printers and telephones to ‘power saving’ mode when not in use; has introduced ‘Cloud Computing’, reducing onsite infrastructure
- doormats outside classrooms are made from 100% recycled materials (tyres and plastic bottles)
- has thriving vegetable gardens in the Preparatory School, Junior School and in Boarding
- only uses Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified photocopy / printroom paper
- planted a sustainability garden