TAFE Western is committed to environmental sustainability

TAFE Western aims to:

  • Foster a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility;
  • Consider environmental sustainability in all educational, operational, and planning aspects of our work;
  • Be recognised as a leader in green skills training;
  • Build capability in our communities and industries to adapt to a low-carbon future;
  • Actively encourage our staff and students to reduce the consumption of resources, including land, water, energy and materials; to reuse and recycle; minimise waste and reduce pollution;
  • Reward staff and students for their efforts in achieving environmental sustainability;
  • Minimise our use and production of toxic substances; and
  • Align our policies and processes to support environmentally sustainable outcomes.

The Institute's Environmental Incentive Awards scheme acknowledges and rewards staff and students for their achievements.

Environmental Sustainability Performance

Since 2006 the kilometres travelled by TAFE Western vehicles each year has reduced by 388,000 - from over 3 million kilometres per year to 2.66 million kilometres in the 2008/09 year. During the next 12 months the distances travelled by TAFE Western vehicles has increased by 2% however due to changes in the vehicle fleet fuel consumption has fallen by 4.39%.

It is anticipated that these figures will continue to fall as more fuel efficient vehicles are chosen and increased use of use electronic communication technologies reduces the need to travel.

Water usage has dropped by 45,000 kilolitres since the 2005/06 year. Installation of dual flush toilets, better watering systems, less water dependent gardens and water tanks will continue to reduce the Institutes' water consumption. In the 2008/09 year a total of 81,126 kilolitres was consumed across all the Institute's campuses.

In the 2008/9 year TAFE Western's electricity consumption totalled 6,187,261 kWh. This was increase of 2.08% compared to the previous year. The consumption of natural gas consumption increased by 160.20% to 11,748,794 kJ during the same year, however, in the following 12 months both electricity and natural gas consumption fell; electricity by 8.85% and natural gas by 329%.