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March 9, 2010
Local students ‘make an impact’ on climate change
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A practical Toolkit to help children reduce their personal greenhouse footprint is the latest initiative to be launched under Alcoa of Australia’s Connecting with Schools education program.
Pinjarra Primary School in WA and Moolap Primary School in Geelong are the first schools to take ownership of Make an Impact Toolkits, which have been developed by Alcoa in partnership with long-time sustainability partner Greening Australia.
Containing four tools – an infrared thermometer, compass, Power Mate and stopwatch* - with corresponding activity worksheets, the Toolkits help children and their families find ways to reduce household water and energy.
Alcoa’s Make an Impact program was devised to help Alcoa employees reduce their home water and energy use, and has assisted some 1200 Alcoa employees to reduce their carbon footprint. These Toolkits now take the program to schoolchildren within Alcoa’s Connecting with Schools program, a comprehensive education package which includes: ‘discover alcoa’ curriculum material; a physical activity initiative run through a Bluearth partnership; an accident prevention program run with the Kids Foundation, and the Sculpture by the Sea School Education Program (see www.alcoa.au/schools).
Alcoa of Australia Managing Director, Alan Cransberg, said Alcoa recognises the importance of schools in the local community, and also childrens’ right to a healthy planet and a good education.
“We all need to be part of the solution to climate change and these Toolkits are a great way to help kids learn about this critical issue,” he said. “This initiative sees us out in the community to help make a difference in a very practical way.
“For us, reaching out with high-quality educational resources, under our Connecting with Schools program, is proving a great means of connecting with the next generation, to get them thinking about how they can be part of the climate change challenge too.”
Carl Carthy, CEO Greening Australia Victoria said with Australian households generating up to one-fifth of Australia’s total greenhouse emissions, the school Toolkits can help children to make simple practical changes around the home, which can make a big difference to the environment.
“Being part of the solution to climate change doesn’t need to cost a lot of money, things like draft proofing your home to avoid switching on heaters, reducing hot water usage and using energy saving light globes all have a dramatic effect on your home’s greenhouse footprint and your bills,” he said.
Some 60 schools around Alcoa’s operations in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia will receive Toolkits in the coming weeks, which children can borrow from their school libraries to take home.
To learn more about Make an Impact, visit www.alcoa.com.au/makeanimpact
Visit www.alcoa.com.au/schools to find out more about Alcoa’s initiatives.
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* The Make an Impact ToolKit contains:
- A Power Mate –to measure energy consumption and running costs of appliances;
- An infrared thermometer to measure fridge, freezer and hot water temperatures;
- A compass to identify the orientation of the home and passive solar heating opportunities;
- A stopwatch to measure shower and tap flow rates;
- Corresponding activity worksheets for each tool
- A Make an Impact Resource Booklet filled with tips to save energy, save money and help save the planet
Media contact: Sarah Tempest 0404 800 417
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