Teaching and Learning Resources
Disclaimer: The NSW Government does not endorse or recommend the organisations and products listed on this webpage. The web links, reports and other documents are provided for information purposes only.
Note: Training and assessment materials designed to link directly to national qualifications can be found in the 'green training' section of the SkillsOnline web site.
On this page:
DEC Information Sheets
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The Green Resources Guide (2011)
The Guide lists and provides links to a wealth of Green or Energy Efficiency training resources, covering a wide range of industry sectors. Many of the resources are free or provide a free preview. Relevant Training Packages and units of competency are identified where appropriate. The Guide has been developed by State Training Services and can be used to find resources for both trainers and learners. |
Photovoltaic Accreditation Factsheet
This factsheet has been developed by State Training Services to present up to date information on the skills electricians require to install grid-connected and stand-alone photovoltaic power systems. It discusses trends in the uptake of photovoltaics in NSW and nationally and also lists the main government incentives to support solar electricity.
Construction and Building Energy Efficiency Rating Tool Guide
This guide offers clarification on the NABERS, NatHERS, BASIX and Green Star rating systems. The criteria, star meaning, and building type of each system are explained and compared.
Teaching and Learning Aids
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The Australian Life Cycle Inventory Database
The AusLCI portal is the one-stop-shop for Australian life cycle inventory (LCI) and life cycle assessment (LCA) information. Sign up is free and allows access to methodologies, guidelines and protocols developed by AusLCI, along with specific sector product LCI datasets. |
EPA Victoria - Ecological Footprint Calculator
The process of measuring our own ecological footprint can help us better understand the ecological impact of our everyday choices. This calculator asks a series of simple questions and then calculates the area of land required to support your lifestyle.
You can calculate the footprints of your school, office, retail activity or event. And see a range of case studies on how the tool has been used.
Better Life Index - OECD
How do you define a better life? There must be more to life than the cold numbers of GDP and economic statistics. By using this interactive tool you can see how your country performs on the topics you feel make for a better life.
The index allows you to compare well-being across countries, based on 11 topics the OECD has identified as essential, in the areas of material living conditions and quality of life; and which you can rate according to their importance to you.
National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)
The NABERS site offers a range of tools which can be used to rate your home or workplace in areas such as energy, water and waste. The site also provides case studies, advice on how to improve your rating and links to a host of other informational sources and resources.
National Emissions Reduction Trajectory Calculator
Create and test your own pathway to reach the UK's target of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050, on the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change's interactive Web Tool. The web tool allows you to adjust a host of policy choices to attempt to reach the 80% reduction target.
It displays the impact of your policy decisions using real UK data and evaluates how well your pathway would cope with real-life weather events and demand patterns. A range of other implications of your pathway choices can also be explored through this interesting and innovative web tool.
Sustainable Office checklist
This list, produced by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, covers office equipment, air-conditioning, lighting, kitchen facilities and amenities, purchasing and travel.
Sydney Opera House - Talks & Ideas
A range of videos showing a presentations which have been given at the Sydney Opera House by some of the world's most renowned authors and thinkers, can be viewed on their website. Included are thought provoking lectures from distinguished experts in the field of environmental sustainability, such as David Suzuki and Clive Hamilton.
Short Videos
The Trade Secrets website provides informational videos on applying sustainability skills in building and construction. You can hear from businesses that have become leaders in sustainable practice, and watch instructional videos on specific green skills for tradies. Also on YouTube.
The SkillsOne website hosts a number of short videos and articles focusing on sustainability skills development. Some feature WorldSkills competitors.
Animations
Strong visual images can be powerful tools in delivering an idea or embedding a concept. This animation by 350.org highlights the dangers of rising levels of CO2 within our atmosphere.
Two engaging animations by the Simpleshow explain the concept of the 'Blue Economy' and how this concept can be applied to problems such as transforming energy production through innovative and cost effective strategies.
Created by Global Mindshift and featuring a dancing wombat, this is a short but clever animation with a strong message.
The Story of Stuff project has created a number of interesting animations offering an accessable view on some complex issues. The Story of Stuff animation is a sobering yet fascinating view on the need for a sustainable approach to production and consumption. This has been followed up by the Stories of Bottled Water, Cosmetics, Electronics, and an interesting piece looking at the issues around Cap and Trade schemes.
Natural Edge - Podcasts
This project's website provides podcasts of lectures and discussions on a whole range of sustainability related subjects.
Morguefile.com - Green Images
Don’t be put off by the site name. If you are looking for images to support your training or presentation material, this site is a good source. It contains high resolution digital stock photography for either corporate or public use.
NOTE: Most are free to use but please check the conditions for each image.
Search under: Earth/ Environment / Landscape / Ocean / Plants.
Websites of Interest
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ALTC - Learning and Teaching Sustainability This site provides a host of information on and links to sustainability resources for learning and teaching in higher education. Although currently in its infancy, the site aims to provide a single repository outlining the full range of ways in which universities are responding to the national Green Skills agenda. |
TAFE NSW - Sustainability Hub
This website, developed by TAFE NSW, provides information and links to a wealth of sustainability teaching and learning resources, case studies and other tools and aids. Some of the material on the site requires a TAFE login to access, but much is available to all and new resources are being added all the time.
Education for Sustainability (EfS) - Professional Learning Hub
The Hub is an interactive online learning network that supports sustainability professionals to create change. Developed by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the Hub is designed to support ongoing professional development by helping to identify priority professional learning needs, and connecting practitioners with relevant resources and industry professionals.
Australian Government - Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET)
The DRET website provides details on a variety of initiatives focusing on developing our energy sector in line with the principles of ecological sustainability. Examples are the Clean Energy Initiative incorporating the Australian Centre of Renewable Energy (ACRE); the Connecting Renewable Initiative; Smart Grid, Smart City; the National Framework on Energy Efficiency, and; the Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program.
RMIT - Centre for Design
The Centre for Design promotes sustainability through research, consulting, and capacity building through active dissemination and professional development. As Australia’s key node of activity in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the Centre is dedicated to all aspects of achieving environmental sustainability outcomes, and undertakes fundamental research to inform policy and practice to this end.
The Green Directory
With a rapidly growing number of directories claiming to be the number one resource for green products and services, it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between the ever-growing greenwash used in marketing and what is genuinely green. The Green Directory spends a lot of time and effort ruling out those businesses using greenwash so that users of The Green Directory can be certain that what they are looking for is the greenest alternative.
Green Building Council Australia (GBCA)
GBCA is a national, not-for-profit organisation that is committed to developing a sustainable property industry for Australia by encouraging the adoption of green building practices. It attracts support from both industry and governments across the country. A vital part of the GBCA's role is to educate its members and the broader industry in green building practices.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)
The TEEB study is a major international initiative aimed at drawing attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity. The study has produced information resources and individual reports for policy makers and for business which speak specifically to these sectors, providing practical guidance on the issues and opportunities arising through biodiversity-related considerations.
Bank of Natural Capital
The Bank of Natural Capital website is an innovative collection of multi-media resources which draw on the information in the TEEB study, presenting it in a compelling and imaginative way for consumers and citizens. The project focuses on harnessing the power of the internet and social media to create awareness in the value of biodiversity.
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
The UNEP's mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life. The site is a wealth of information on all aspects of sustainability, providing links to a host of reports, publications, videos, podcasts and a range of other resources.
The Science Corner - Reports and Publications
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The Science of Climate Change - questions and answers (2010)
This publication represents the combined wisdom of the Australian Academy of Sciences on climate change. Beautifully laid out for the web, it seeks to reduce public confusion about climate change by discussing the current climate science clearly and highlighting where there is and is not consensus in the scientific community. |
The Critical Decade: climate science, risks and responses (2011)
This 2011 report from the Climate Commission provides an update into the current scientific knowledge on climate change. The report focuses on the risks a changing climate poses to Australia, and how this information informs the policy options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Accounting for the Cost of Carbon - price for small and medium business not sky high (2009)
This report summarises the findings of industry research conducted by the National Centre for Sustainability (NCS) at Swinburne University of Technology. It quantifies the impact of a carbon price on small and medium enterprises and maps the responses of different industries to the challenges of operating in and adapting to a carbon-constrained world.
Australian Emissions Reduction Model - energy efficiency methodology (2008)
This report for the Climate Institute was produced by Australia's pre-eminent climate modellers, MMA.
Energy efficiency measures are highly cost-effective strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This report compares and contrasts the savings to be gained from various measures ranging from the simple actions by individuals to complex redesign of industrial processes. Many options available incur a negative cost as the energy saved results in a cost-saving from energy not purchased.
Energy Basics Factsheet
This factsheet compiled by Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) contains a how to guide on the measurement of energy and power. It explains step by step energy calculations, describes how renewable and non-renewable power plants work and highlights the energy consumption statistics within Australia.
Energy Shock - confronting higher prices (2011)
This report, produced by the Australian Industry Group, reviews what has been happening to electricity and gas prices in recent years, what is likely to happen in coming years, and why.
