Scotch College

Switching on to switching off

Scotch College is trying to create a culture of energy use change.

Words: Cath Garrett PHOTOGRAPHY: KEIRON JONES

Around the world, groups large and small are making changes to the way they use energy sources, in order to protect our environment. Scotch College too is looking at ways to ensure ethical and practical sustainability of our precious resources.

Several prefects are using their environment portfolio to consider how we might improve Scotch’s campus. The groundsmen and maintenance staff are already well advanced in practices that have reduced water, power and supported land management. The Junior School has shown outstanding leadership in moving towards a much more sustainable campus, including developing curricula for the boys. The Senior School is making significant changes as well: recycling bins are now in full use across the campus; paper is being recycled even more; and staff and boys now approach their use of resources with increasing awareness.

The idea behind Earth Hour is not to just make a statement at one time, on one day for one hour, but to recognise how easy it is to save energy on a daily basis.

Earth Hour was just one occasion where we were encouraged to really think about one aspect of sustainability: how we use power switches and how we can be more thoughtful about what we do. However, as term 1 drew to a close, many of us at Scotch College recognised that we would not be together to celebrate Earth Hour, as it occurred during the term holidays.

So, on the last Tuesday of term 1, Scotch College created our own Earth Hour and decided to Switch ON to Switching OFF. Students and staff across the school switched off unnecessary electrical appliances, and it was surprising how easy and painless the process was – all it took was a little planning and just simply thinking about turning off what we didn’t need.

The idea behind Earth Hour is not to just make a statement at one time, on one day for one hour, but to recognise how easy it is to save energy on a daily basis. We have become so used to our wonderful electrical appliances that we have forgotten how often we use these domestic devices unnecessarily. Earth Hour was a sign of our commitment to reduce global warming, and to understand the need for action on climate change.

As my Year 7 class and I sat together during this time, we discussed the thorny issue of how WE can make a difference – how can we make a difference to the greenhouse issue and the problem of saving energy and reducing carbon emissions? The students came up with a long list of ideas. There are some simple things we can do: change our light globes to the many energy-saving selections available, and take public transport rather than driving our cars.

It was pleasing to see how many of my students take public transport or walk or ride to school each day. Other suggestions included washing clothes with cold water rather than hot, turning off the printer after you are done, and turning off the lights when you leave a room. It is simple to make a difference – stand up and turn off the television last thing at night – there is no need to leave appliances on standby; only our refrigerators need to be on at all times.

Scotch College is trying to create a culture of energy use change – students and staff turning off lights at the end of a class, turning off equipment when it is not in use, working without lights where possible – making this part of Scotch College’s behaviour: switching on to switching off!

Our youngest students are aware of the information which abounds for the community to be more energy aware. Earth Hour is about taking simple steps every day that collectively reduce carbon emissions. It is sending a message to us all – it is time to move these ideas from the newspaper articles we read and the advertisements we watch on television into ACTION – to do the things we know we need to do to make a change.

Scotch has a long way to go. However, the impetus, good will and sense of urgency are apparent across the campus. Scotch will continue to monitor and consider how we use our resources and to determine improvements. Each individual is responsible for actions that either contribute to or reduce harm to the environment; Scotch is aware of this, and will continue to plan and act upon behaviours that will have as little impact as possible.

It is called behavioural change – make these actions just part of our lives, not something we need to think about or talk about. Remember – one person CAN make a difference. Go on – try it, make it part of your day – switch off! GS