‘Solar Schools’ Competition
Brentwood has recently won the ‘Solar Schools - Smart Energy for Switched On Students’ competition. The prize includes a full suite of innovative products, supported by a sophisticated system which monitors and analyses energy usage information from all member schools. This allows us to keep track of the energy health our school while using data to enhance learning in the classroom. The prize, including the technologies, Planet Watch application and curriculum resources are valued at $7000. https://www.solarschools.net/
Earth Overshoot Day- 2020
22nd August is the Earth’s Overshoot Day for 2020. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanities resource consumption for the year exceeds Earth's capacity to regenerate those resources that year. From this date onward until the end of the year, humans take resources reserved for future generations to meet their needs.
The Brentwood Green Team has put together a video to report Brentwood’s resource usage over the past five years and the measures we have taken to reduce our emissions. The team would like your input into making Brentwood a zero emissions college in the future.
Earth Hour
2021
Brentwood participated in the annual Earth Hour event by turning off all non-essential lighting in classrooms and staffrooms on 26 March during period 4.
2020:
On 28th March, students participated in Earth Hour from home. Students turned off thier lights
2019:
On 29 March, during period 3, Brentwood switched off lights to observe Earth Hour and strike a conversation on the necessity to take action on Climate Change. The theme for this year’s Earth Hour is ‘Connect to Earth’.
2018:
An awareness on the need for conserving energy and reducing emissions was raised through the Earth Hour event. Non-essential lighting was turned off in all classrooms and offices as a part of this event.
2017:
Brentwood observed this year's Earth Hour by switching off non-essential lights in all classrooms and offices on March 24 during periods 3 and 4. The Green team requests everyone in our community to take part in this global movement by switching off their lights on Saturday March 25 between 8:30 to 9:30pm local time.
2016:
An awareness on the need for conserving energy and reducing emissions was raised through the Earth Hour event. Non-essential lighting was turned off in all classrooms and offices as a part of this event.
2015:
Saturday 28 March at 8:30pm (local time) was the time that many around the world were involved in Earth Hour. Earth Hour started in 2007 as a lights-off event to raise awareness about climate change.
As this fell outside of school time, the Brentwood Green Team conducted Earth Hour at school on Friday 27 March between during periods 3&4 where all classes turned off the lights in their classrooms to highlight the importance of being environmentally aware.
Solar PV System Installation
2016:
Brentwood has reached another significant milestone in its journey towards sustainability, thanks to the grants provided by the Pratt Foundation. Over the recent school holidays, a 30 kW solar PV system was installed on J-block. The system comprises of 115 solar panels and is expected to generate electricity to meet a quarter of Brentwood’s annual energy requirements. This renewable energy is not only going to save money on our monthly electricity bills but it will also reduce our CO2 emissions by 40 tonnes every year.
2019:
Brentwood has moved one more step forward in its commitment to reduce its CO2 emissions and help with the Take 2 project. A 68 kW solar PV system was added to the existing 30 kW system during the recent term holidays. The combined system has started generating electricity since the start of this term.
The combined system of 97.9 kW, can meet up to only 40% of our current electricity demand and reduce our CO2 emissions by 134 tons every year. There is a long way to go before we can become an ‘off-the-grid’ and 'carbon neutral' workplace. In the meantime, Brentwood continues to apply the good behavior we have developed over the past few years to conserve electricity by: turning off appliances when not needed and setting the room temperature to an ambient 24°C in summer and 20°C in winter.
Brentwood Secondary College pledges for climate action- 2016
Brentwood Secondary College is a Victorian leader when it comes to sustainability. It was named ResourceSmart Energy (Secondary) School for 2016, and is the latest Victorian school to join TAKE2.
TAKE2 is Victoria's collective pledge initiative to take action on Climate change to help Victoria reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. You can make a pledge as an educational institution, family or as an individual. By pledging you can show you're keen for Victoria to take action on climate change and help keep temperature rise below two degrees with TAKE2.
Energy Secondary School of the Year 2016- Winner
Brentwood was awarded the 'Energy Secondary School of the 2016' at the annual ResourceSmart Schools awards, hosted by TV celebrities Natalie Hunter and Josh Earl and held at the IMAX Melbourne.
Brentwood won this award for their significant reduction in electricity usage during the year, due to the installation of the 29 kW solar PV system and behaviour changes to conserve electricity usage at the college.
The Brentwood Green Team was thrilled to see their nomination pop-up on the second biggest screen in the world (IMAX Melbourne) and the receive the award from the Victorian Minister of Environment, the Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio.
Pratt Foundation Sustainability Grants
Brentwood was successful in winning the $25000 grant from the Pratt Foundation (VISY). The grants were offered through the sustainability grants program run the City of Monash.
The grant money was used to purchase a 29 kW solar PV system.