Schools: An Untapped Opportunity for a Carbon Neutral Future

School buildings, like many buildings around the world, are rapidly aging and becoming increasingly inefficient, leading to unnecessary carbon emissions and high utility bills. School buildings can offer some of the most cost-effective carbon abatement opportunities; however, very few schools focus on quantifiable carbon reduction. This is despite the growing emphasis on school sustainability and there is a notable gap in the literature in this area. This study examined 13 schools that participated in an innovative 2-year Low Carbon Schools Pilot Program (LCSPP) in Perth, Western Australia and explores how schools can effectively reduce their carbon emissions and operational costs associated with their buildings and infrastructure. Utility data from electricity, gas and water from the schools were analysed in conjunction with the initiatives each school implemented to identify the highest impact initiatives. The study showed that schools reduced their carbon emissions on average by 20% on a per student basis and saved an average of 15% in costs. More than 70% of the actions identified by participating schools were low or zero cost. This study demonstrates the abundant opportunities available for schools to reduce their consumption of resources, carbon emissions and utility costs with minimal to no cost outlay.