Environment News
MGC Solar
On Thursday the 1st of October MGC’s 33kW grid connected Solar array went live. You can monitor the live energy generation at any time from this web address:
https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/GqXy748374
Did you know that since its installation, our array has generated enough electricity to power the MGC for a full day, MGC for 7 days, 239 houses or charges the average smart phone for 2.5 years. This has offset 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to roughly 128 trees. All of these cool facts can be explored at your own leisure on the Enphase web portal using the address above.
As you can see from the photos, the array of 126 panels is situated on our gym roof. The array faces west, so maximises the afternoon sun and is taking advantage of the long spring days, generating about 10% of the school’s daily consumption.
Did you know that you can log on and watch the school’s energy and water consumption via a system called SWEP? (Schools water and Energy Program). Our average daily energy use is 1.4MWh, which is on the high end of Victorian schools and highlights that although we are a sustainable school, there is a lot of work that we can do to become more efficient and environmentally friendly. It If you would like to obtain a log in for the SWEP system, speak to a science teacher or email Mr Vance: avance@mgc.vic.edu.au
This array, along with our developing Hydro, wind, ergo generator and solar fountain projects have been funded by the Zayed Future Energy Prize. We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the ZFEP and the UAE government.
MGC Veggie Boxes
This term the Year 10 Environmental Issues and Actions class, led by Mr Vance, designed and made four veggie boxes that can be seen on the grass outside portable 3 (opposite the Gillard Centre).
The idea began after a biodiversity audit that our class took of the school, where we found that we needed to increase the general levels of biodiversity at MGC. And so we got to work planning, and researching ways to create four sustainable vegetable patches. We also thought that it would be a great idea to use the fruit, vegetables and herbs in Food Tech. This will save money aswell as the emissions generated during the transport of the many foods used in food tech classes. In addition, we hope that our patches will also encourage native bugs and insects to drop by.
Thanks to the supplies and great help provided by Richmond MITRE 10, we were able to put together four veggie boxes. Two are wicking beds and two are no-dig garden beds. We have created two different types of veggie boxes so that we can test which type of veggie patch produces better plants and uses water more efficiently.
Thank you to Mr Vance for making our plan become successful, and we can’t wait to get back from the holidays to see our produce ready to be used by our many food tech classes.
Feel free to stop by and have a look!
Esther Honybun, 10L1
National Recycling Week
9- 15th November 2015 was International Recycling Week, year levels from across the school participated in several days of activities in which they learnt about recycling and the impacts of our actions and choices on surrounding wildlife. On Wednesday, the year 7 students took part in a Soft Plastics Day organised by a group of environment team representatives. In this time we wanted to promote the new soft plastics recycling system that has now been implemented into the school. During period 1 a guest speaker, Natasha Primo, an expert from Visy, came in to talk to the girls about which everyday objects can be recycled and how they are sorted within a recycling facility. After, the girls participated in a range of activities where they learnt more about this issue by being involved in fun ways to reuse and recycle.
Within this week, 3 girls participating in a global Ocean Youth program, Nikki Braslis, Hannah Carlile and Ruby Buick, organised a lunch time documentary screening of David Attenborough’s The Death of the Oceans. A film that investigates what is happening to our oceans and marine wildlife and whether it’s too late to save such an important, biodiverse environment. The Friday lunchtime of the same week the girls held a bake stall where they raised $120 for the Marine Conservation Society.
On Friday periods 3 and 4 the year 8 students were involved in Seal the Loop day, a program run by Zoos Victoria. It aims to minimize the quantities of fishing line being thrown out to sea by installing bins around various fishing sites and educating about the effects of this improperly disposed fishing waste on marine life. The girls helped out with some of the environment team’s projects and learnt about how our various products and waste can affect many species, like seals. To finish off the week the teachers and students participated in a Yarra clean up which helped to reduce the amount of waste that was building up on the banks of the river.
Thank you to Mr Vance and all the teachers, students, guest speakers and members of the environment team that participated and contributed to a successful recycling awareness week. Don’t forget to look out for the new Soft Plastic Recycling bins that have now been placed around the school.
Monique Burns, Year 9