Energy

At Solway we are committed to reducing our energy consumption and therefore reducing the amount of carbon pollution produced by the school.

Since establishing the Sustainability Committee in 2008, the school was lucky enough to be the recipient of a National Schools Solar Programme (NSSP) grant.  This allowed us to purchase and install 44 PV solar panels (4.1kW system) on the roof of Brewer Hall.

Other activities to help reduce our energy consumption are:

• De-lamping and re-lamping of the entire school with more energy efficient light globes
• Installation of motion and light sensored lighting throughout classrooms
• Use of luxe meters to measure lighting in classrooms
• Installation of thermometers across all classrooms, to ensure that heating and cooling equipment is only used when needed and monitored through each individual classroom
• Installation of signage produced by the students throughout the school, reminding staff, students and visitors to be conscious of their energy use

Annual participation in Walk or Wheel Wednesdays and Walktober encouraging students to walk or ride to school in Term 2 and 3, Solway Primary School was awarded the highest participation award in 2017. In 2019, we were given a smoothie bike from Boroondara council, which we use on days such as Ride2School Day. We hope to encourage healthy ways to travel to school, whilst also reducing the number of car trips to and from school throughout the school year.

Ride2School Day
In 2019, Boroondara council kindly gave Solway a brand-new smoothie bike and we have been waiting for an opportunity to use it with our Solway community.

We celebrated Ride2School day 2022 by inviting students to school into the school grounds on their bikes and giving them the opportunity to make their own healthy smoothie with our school’s smoothie bike. Students were asked to BYO cups as we try to minimise our waste wherever possible.