Corinda State High School

Date Published: 02/2019

Corinda State High is an independent secondary public school in the western suburbs of Brisbane. Corinda offers a holistic approach to education for its more than 1,800 students, embracing academic and entrepreneurial excellence and innovation. The school also excels in environmental stewardship. It teaches the importance of sustainability to its students and is itself leading by example.

Corinda achieved Climate Active certification, formerly known as the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS), becoming one of the first secondary schools in Australia to do so. This was not a one-time goal, but part of a broader strategy. Corinda had a three-year plan to maintain its Australian Government certification, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a further 5% each year.

Students learn what it means to reduce their impact on the environment through step-by-step measures and how to achieve their goals with clear structures, an action plan and a policy in place. The school’s emissions reduction measures range from standard energy-efficiency and recycling practices to hands-on activities such as weed control, composting and permaculture. These activities are enjoyable for students while also teaching important lessons about sustainability.

‍

Supporting Corinda's Climate Active Certification

Corinda chose Pangolin for the company’s extensive work in the area. Pangolin also offered unparalleled experience across many sectors and sizes of organisations, including schools and universities. Pangolin provided the carbon footprint, carbon credits services, and Climate Active project management, including the application development and submission processes.

The school’s carbon footprint measured emissions in Scopes 1, 2, and 3. This included fuel, refrigerants, electricity, water, waste, IT equipment, cleaning, food catering, and printing. Electricity was the largest source of emissions (444.3 tonnes CO2-e), followed by landfill waste (138.8 tonnes CO2-e) and employee commuting (99 tonnes CO2-e).

Less expected in the carbon inventory, however, were one cow, two calves, 20 sheep, and one alpaca, which were Scope 1 emissions responsible for 29.3 tonnes CO2-e.

Corinda’s overall emissions are perhaps larger than many schools due to its size and diversity. It is unique in having an agricultural farm on site, which borders the Oxley River and Rocklea Common. Among many other activities, the farm has livestock, bees, poultry, and a 100% organic permaculture garden.

As a partner with local and state government, Corinda SHS offers a rich educational experience for its students, taking care of the environment for both ecological and social benefits, and as a potential career path.

Corinda’s Emissions Reduction Measures Include:

• Implementing LED lighting, with plans to expand it over time.
• Implementing a recycling and composting program.
• Harvesting water for school ovals and agricultural crops. Impressively, Corinda has water tanks with a total capacity of 250,000 litres.
• Implementing water-saving measures such as dual-flush toilets, with 90% of facilities on the grounds now equipped.
• Developing school market gardens.
• Selecting supplies with a lower footprint, such as FSC paper.
• Promoting sustainability beyond the school gates and in the community.
• Seeking partnership funding to offset emissions with certified carbon credits.

Three-Year Goal: Achieving a 15% Reduction

Corinda plans to schedule lessons on good environmental practices and continue to develop its sustainability policies. To reduce emissions, in future years Corinda will also move to renewable energy and more efficient use of energy. Electricity is the largest source of the school’s greenhouse gas emissions, so solar PV and green power are in the pipeline. Corinda will also upgrade another 20% of school lighting to energy-efficient LEDs.