Sustainability Policy

 

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Sustainability Policy ( June 19th 2006)

Little Yarra Steiner School aims to be CO2 Neutral and grid independent by 2016.

The scope of this aim is to be inclusive of the operations of the school: energy consumed on site, purchasing, transport and commuter travel, and the handling of waste.

It is also the aim of the school to conserve resources, to minimise waste and to take responsibility for the disposal of pollutants produced by the school’s activities. The school also aims to honour, maintain and develop natural, social and cultural capital. This is inclusive of pre-historic, historic and contemporary cultural activity.

The principles of  Truth, Beauty and Goodness, as embodied in the school’s pedagogy, shall be applied as principles when interpreting this policy.

In line with these objectives the school’s development, maintenance and organisation shall have regard to the following in this order of consideration, but without any category being paramount:

1 The well-being of the children.

2 The wholesome working environment of staff.

3 The pedagogical program.

4 The existing values of the property: natural and built environment.

5. The school’s place in the broader community from an ecological perspective.

Guidelines

1. Problems, issues, needs will be resolved by principles of good design in the first instance. This means the utilisation of passive energy principles, conservation, recycling and abstinence where abstinence does not compromise the quality of the educational program.

2. A whole of life framework will be applied to projects and purchases. This means that the cost benefit analysis of any decision will take into account the anticipated duration of any building, infrastructure or item and include its initial costs, its energy requirements, maintenance costs, potential for recycling, waste and disposal. This includes taking into account embodied energy and environmental impact of production and transportation.

3. Decisions, wherever possible will be maximally over-determined. This means having as many reasons for doing something as possible and is fulfilled when a building can be used for more than one purpose, or when infrastructure is also exemplary and supports the pedagogy.

4. The school will endeavour to be transparent in its processes as the means of building and maintaining a vibrant and developing culture.
 

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Document Updated: 15/09/2008

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