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C&K Kedron Childcare Centre Case Study

 

CK Kedron Childcare Centre case study for DES2

 EcoBiz Star Partner 21 22 Energy CMYK


Find out how ecoBiz Star Partner C&K Kedron Childcare Centre reduced their energy, water and waste use.

The free ecoBiz program has assessed the waste, water and energy practices in hundreds of businesses in Queensland and developed case studies to help businesses improve their operations and save money through sustainability.

C&K has cared for and educated more than one million children since being established in 1907. C&K Kedron Childcare Centre, located right next door to the C&K central office, opened in 2018. The state-of-the-art centre accommodates children between the ages of six weeks to five years. Like a home away from home, their environment provides feelings of being safe, secure, and supported while in the care of qualified educators. Their many facilities include a unique outdoor environment and open plan spaces that accommodate flexibility for children and educators to interact. The centre also operatesa commercial kitchen providing nutritious meals for the children, prepared onsite by a qualified chef. 

C&K Kedron Childcare Centre has been a part of the ecoBiz program for two years. 

“We are proud to be recognised as a Star partner with ecoBiz and would recommend other businesses get on board with this amazing initiative to reduce their impact on the environment and identify ways to become more sustainable”.  Lauren Brake, C&K Kedron Childcare centre 

Key Initiatives to reduce energy use

  • Upgraded to energy-efficient LEDs throughout the centre and security lighting is on a timer. 

  • The premises have high-sky light windows that invite ample natural light throughout the day. 

  • The centre ceilings are insulated to reduce heat ingress and the eves are designed to keep the rooms cooler. 

  • Blinds installed on the office windows to reduce heat and hence minimize air conditioner usage. 

  • Split system air conditioners are cleaned and serviced regularly, and the systems are turned off and on with a timer and can be manually managed if necessary. 

  • Photocopiers on energy saving settings. Defaults are set to print double sided to reduce paper usage.  

 

key initiatives to reduce water use

  • Reduced washing of sheets down to once a week instead of daily by getting parents to donate material and make sheet bags at a working bee. Remaining materials are used to make stools. 

  • Capture and repurpose storm water. They have dual flush toilets and have installed low flow taps. 

  • A trigger nozzle is used in the kitchen for rinsing to ensure less water usage. 

 

key initiatives to reduce waste

  • Plastic food prep trays are given to parents to reuse. They recycle their containers and co-mingled mixed items. They also recycle clothing, shoes, belts, handbags, and soft toysthrough one-world donation bin. 

  • Use their own cutlery and crockery to serve meals to the children and all children are supplied with water bottles to reduce usage of single used cups and plastic bottles.  

  • Food waste is composted and incorporated into teaching. They own a community garden and plant herbs and vegetables for kitchen, children and parents. 

  • Ink cartridges are recycled by photocopier service provider and all art materials are donated to parents.  

  • They communicate with parents and market using social media and website rather than having paper-based communications. 

 

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ecoBiz is a free program funded by the Queensland Government and run by the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) that helps Queensland businesses audit their resource use and reduce costs from waste, water, and energy bills. After a free two-hour coaching session with a sustainability expert, businesses receive a written report with practical and tangible solutions, which are often no or low cost to implement. 

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