Orange Sustainable Living Week, September 21-27.

Want to know how to slash your energy bills, lower water use and reduce your waste? The Sustainable Living Expo this Sunday, September 21, will feature a range of local exhibitors with information on everything from electric cars and home solar to better waste practices and home energy and water efficiency.

Now in its 17th year, the Sustainable Living Expo is an initiative of the Rotary Club of Orange and supported by Orange City Council. The Expo takes place from 9am to 2pm on Sunday, 21 September in the Naylor Pavilion at Orange Showground.

While the Expo brings together a wealth of expertise under one roof, why not take note of the example being set in our local primary schools all year round? Len Banks of the Rotary Club of Orange has been visiting schools in the lead-up to Sustainable Living Week and discovered many innovative measures that have been adopted by our school communities.

“We all want to reduce our energy use, reduce our water use and reduce our waste. The primary schools of Orange are shining examples of how to do it, and our kids are embracing it with enthusiasm!” says Len.

In the last few years, Bletchington Primary School has introduced state-of-the-art ‘smart’ classrooms, powered by solar panels with temperature control, CO2 extractors, and automatic shutdown when not in use, he says.

While Anson Street School is undergoing an energy audit and has an end-of-day checklist for turning off power points and light switches to limit waste

“Walking through the Anson Street School, one can’t miss the abundance of raised garden beds. Students are learning the what, the when and the how to grow vegetables across the range of seasons,” says Len, who adds that vegetable gardens feature in most of our schools, with food scraps collected daily and used as a resource for compost or worm food to go back into their gardens.

“Calare and Orange East Public Schools have Stephanie Alexander School Gardens with produce being used in cooking classes,” says Len.

“This program teaches students to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal and delicious food.”

Waste is generated in all facets of our lives, including at school, but Len says St Mary’s Catholic Primary School has managed a significant reduction in its waste stream.

“We have a waste-free canteen with all recyclable packaging and we encourage waste-free lunch boxes, thus minimising plastics from our garbage bins,” explains teacher

Chrissy Burgess.

Calare Public School has taken an extra step in reusing cardboard from polling booths following Federal, State and Local government elections.

“The cardboard polling booths are good for making props for our school show and are put to good use in our Art Studio,” Student Learning Support Officer, Karen Harrison, says.

“We also have a system of recycling coffee cups from our staff rooms.”

Anson Street School also uses shredded paper as mulch in their gardens, vineyards, chook laying boxes and around their tree plantings, adds Len.

The other build-up of recyclable waste in a school is bottles and cans and most schools make use of the Return and Earn facilities in town.

Bowen Public School Community Liaison Officer Tammie Meacham says this enables them to buy additional school resources and provide prizes on event days.

“Next time you are visiting your child’s or grandchild’s school, take time to check out their efforts in sustainability – there are some good lessons for around the home!” says Len.

And don’t forget to check out other ways of being more sustainable at your own home by visiting the Sustainable Living Expo at the Orange Showground, 9am to 2pm this Sunday, September 21.

To learn more, visit www.rotarycluboforange.org.au/orange-sustainability-living-expo