Sustainability
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Sustainability

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Contributing to a more sustainable future

As a school, we seek to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of their role in caring for the world around us, and to minimise our environmental footprint. 

New buildings are being designed with sustainability in mind, while existing buildings are being retrofitted with sustainable features. 

Across the College's three campuses, a number of measures are being put in place to minimise our impact on the world around us - from renewable energy, responsible waste management and water saving measures, to productive spaces and habitat. Find out more about our sustainable practices below. 

Student-led sustainability initiatives form a key component of our service-learning program at the College, encouraging students to look both within and outside of the school to make an impact. Students participate in environmental initiatives such as the Forktree Project, weeding and planting on the Fleurieu Peninsula, and coastline rehabilitation on the Yorke Peninsula.  

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Renewable Energy

We are committed to the use of renewable energy. Our Kent Town campus has 485kW of solar arrays, with 200kW on the RED Centre, 150kW on the Prep School, 70kW on the Senior School, 30KW on the Early Learning Centre and 30kW on the Boarding House.

At our Wambana campus, 32 solar panels feed directly into the grid, with solar-powered hot water to eight accommodation buildings.

Our Scotts Creek outdoor education centre features 34.8Kw and 10.8Kw solar arrays and 19.8kWh battery storage. A live display system in the dining hall allows staff and students to monitor energy consumption whilst on campus.

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Waste and Recycling

We are committed to responsible waste management across the College.

At our Kent Town campus, we operate a three-stream collection system in public spaces, with dedicated bins for deposit containers, co-mingled recycling, and landfill. Additional programs support the separation of paper, cardboard, and organic waste.

In 2024, PAC strengthened its sustainability efforts with the installation of a Foodie F100 rapid composter. This system processes over 100kg of food waste daily from boarding and ELC kitchens, converting it into nutrient-rich compost. This initiative significantly reduces environmental impact while eliminating the need for off-site waste disposal.

Across the campus, we use 100% recycled organic products to maintain our gardens and grounds.

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Water Conservation

We have introduced strategies to reduce potable water consumption. These include: 

  • Use of recycled (GARWS) water on the grounds at our Kent Town campus, including all ovals, and Park 9 and 15. 
  • Watering in a number of areas controlled using evapotranspiration rates (watering occurs on a needs basis, rather than at a scheduled time).
  • Rainwater harvesting/storage and use on gardens in areas including the Health Centre and Boarding House.
  • New and refurbished garden areas are being planted with predominantly native or low-water demanding species to reduce overall watering needs.
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Productive Spaces

Veggie beds, fruit orchards and other growing spaces across our campuses help develop students’ enjoyment and understanding of the world around them, and our food ecosystems.

The very youngest students in our ELC take responsibility for caring for their class veggie bed, assisting with planting, watering and collecting produce for use in classroom activities, while our older students assist with more complex activities. 

In the Preparatory School, the Four Seasons Community garden serves as a living classroom where students participate in hands-on lessons about science, sustainability, and healthy eating. The garden’s innovative design features a series of Foodcube wicking beds connected to a large rainwater tank. These water-efficient beds conserve resources while providing an ideal platform for growing vegetables and herbs. Through this setup, students and staff engage in sustainable gardening practices while learning about food production and environmental responsibility.

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Other Initiatives

Smaller initiatives are underway around the College, all aimed at minimising our carbon footprint:

  • Replacement of traditional lighting systems with new LED fittings to produce better quality light with lower power consumption and reduce reliance on fossil fuels
  • Transition to battery powered buggies and equipment for equipment used to manage our grounds and sports fields
  • Separation of hard waste types to ensure that materials can be recovered and recycled more easily
  • Expansion of Building Management and Automation systems to allow better control of high energy consuming systems like air conditioning
  • Replacement of older air conditioning systems that operate with less environmentally sustainable refrigerants

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