It's zero o'clock.
It's time to help the more than 9,500 schools in Australia achieve net‑zero emissions through behaviour change, technology, tools and a practical plan. Enough talk. Let's walk the walk.
What is Zero Positive for schools?
Zero Positive is a world-first, not-for-profit emissions reduction program, supported by the United Nations, and developed specifically to empower Australian schools and their communities with the right tools, education and support to become climate positive.
Let's learn to change climate change.
Our school system is the fifth largest emitter of Carbon Dioxide and Equivalent (CO2e), in energy alone, in Australia. It's also where we prepare our children for their future. For us, creating a positive cost-and-emission-reduction program to help schools take action on climate change was not just rational, but vital.
If all Australian schools and 50% of their communities reach energy carbon neutral, we will make significant steps towards our 2030 national target.
Australians spend $876M a year on ‘standby’ energy, which contributes to 2.4M tonnes of CO2e. If ONE school turned their appliances off at the wall every night it would save, on average, $2,225 per school per month. If the 9,500 schools in Australia did that, it would reduce costs by $21M a month or $235M per annum.
Rob Breur, CEO Solar Schools
A world of benefits for your school and community.
Zero Positive for Schools is an holistic, end-to-end solution, designed with partnership and collaboration in mind. It equips students not just to learn, but to solve problems and make a real, concrete difference through an action-oriented journey that's fit for purpose.
- A self-funded program
- Minimal demand requirements from the school's operation
- Cost savings and revenue-return opportunities
- Increased levels of community engagement, more often — thus increasing support between students, parents, teachers, other school staff and the local business community
- Demonstrable results which can be reported, publicised and celebrated
- A clearly informed, environmentally savvy and action-led school with the ability to make a positive impact
- An enhanced leadership reputation within peer groups and the wider community
- A deep sense of pride amongst the whole school community
- Community households have immediate access to financial well being and carbon neutrality through Radian Energy's own Zero Positive For Schools initiative
- Everyone has the ability to directly contribute to, and share the success of, a sustainable community and the future wellbeing of its next generation
- People can be involved in a program which directly invests in their children's education and in their ability to solve problems for the school, their households and their futures
- The whole community can reach carbon neutrality and become climate positive
- Everyone can share the pride of having achieved something lasting and worthwhile, and enjoy the social benefits of having done it together.
It's easiest to start with energy
Because we need to achieve immediate outcomes, it's easy to start with energy to introduce the program, using our technology, digital tools and carbon offset program. Ongoing, a comprehensive roadmap has been developed, guiding schools and their communities through a series of actions to both save and invest money over five years, to become more sustainable.
Year 1
Energy
Year 2
Water
Year 3
Waste
Year 4
Transport
Year 5
Regeneration
A toolkit for practical actions
These Action Initiatives, aligned with UN sustainable development goals, can help schools use real-world, real-time education resources to both save and raise money, and to engage with their communities.
Fundraising and revenue returns
Technology and providers
Australian curriculum-aligned education
Carbon offsetting
Communications and engagement