Climate Ready Schools Guide
Transport efficiency
Choosing active travel such as walking, cycling, using a scooter or skateboard, catching a bus or a train, or carpooling, can reduce carbon emissions, improve health and increase road safety around your school.
Switching to renewable fuel resources, such as solar electricity or biofuels, will also reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Find out from your council if there is a local active travel program or organise one for your school to promote active travel. Activities could include a healthy breakfast event, or Fuel Free days or Walking Wheeling days.
Key actions for schools
4.1 Conduct a transport audit
A transport audit assesses transport methods used by the school community and includes undertaking a survey of the school community on:
- transport needs
- transport methods
- fuel sources
- transport costs over the past 12 months.
4.2 Transport efficiency plan
Once a transport audit has been completed, you will have a baseline on the current state of transport usage within the school community. Your transport efficiency plan may cover a number of areas.
4.3 Community driver education
- Fuel use can be reduced through efficient driving techniques. The CCIQ ecoBiz program provides useful tips on efficient driving and fleet management (PDF, 645KB).
4.4 Managing transport use and bills
- School staff and families of students are encouraged to undertake self-audits to reduce transport costs and emissions. The Energy Cut guide provides a list of actions to take.
4.5 Review alternatives to car use
The Queensland Government provides information on public transport, taxis and cycling. Alternatives to traditional car use include:
- public transport
- carpooling
- active travel of walking and cycling and the use of local cycle paths
- electric vehicles including cars, bikes, scooters and skateboards
- setting up a Walk to School program.
Contact your local council to see if they have active travel and public transport programs available.
You can independently organise an active travel program for your school to inspire students to become more involved in active travel. Activities could include a healthy breakfast event, or Fuel Free days or Walking Wheeling days.
4.6 Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles
- Electric vehicles can be recharged from renewable energy systems and a solar charging station could be established at your school.
- Electric bicycles use high efficiency electric motors and lithium ion battery packs and typically give a range of up to 80km of electric assisted riding.
Useful links
- The Queensland Government provides information on School travel options.
- The CCIQ ecoBiz program assists organisations to improve their efficient use of resources and offers useful tips on efficient driving and fleet management.
- The Queensland Government provides information on cycling benefits, safety and bikeway maps.
- The Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy is exploring the use of hydrogen as a renewable fuel.
In this guide:
- Energy efficiency
- Water efficiency
- Waste reduction
- Transport efficiency
- Food gardens and local food production
- Resilient schools and communities
- Climate ready schools checklist