The NSW Minister for Education, the Hon Adrian Piccoli MP officially opened TAFE NSW –Northern Sydney Institute’s (NSI) EcoSkills Training Structure on the 17 November.
Located at NSI’s Hornsby College, the EcoSkills Training Structure is a unique full scale student construction project, designed to demonstrate environmental sustainability principles.
The Minister opened the facility and then joined TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute Director Kevin Harris, staff and students for a tour of the new facility.
“The EcoSkills Training Structure is a striking example of how education and industry can work together to strengthen students’ employment opportunities,” Mr Piccoli said.
“Sustainability is one of the fastest growing industries in the global economy.
“The students and staff have invested every bit of sustainable practice they can into the design, materials selection and construction of this inspiring structure.
“This facility will be enjoyed and admired by teachers and students for generations to come. Well done to everyone involved,” Mr Piccoli said.
Green skills are embedded in every aspect of the EcoSkills facility, which is to be used as a practical learning and assessment resource for students.
Students from architectural technology, carpentry and joinery, electro-technology, plumbing and landscape construction and land management participated in the building of the project.
Features of the EcoSkills structure include solar panels, grid connected systems for the installation of solar photo voltaic cells, energy efficient light fittings and dual roofing surfaces.
The structure also incorporates the use of recycled materials, including recycled paper, chemically treated to enhance its insulation properties.
The EcoSkills Training Structure has been modelled to enable learning and assessment of installation of insulation within the roof cavity and of solar panels on the roof. Both tile and corrugated iron is used as the roofing material, to enable the different methods of installation carried out.
The scaffolding of the building is also now used to deliver “Working Safely at Heights” training for builders and electricians.
NSI is a leader in sustainability education and training, and is the only TAFE in NSW with full ISO14001 accreditation.
NSI offer environmentally based courses and modules across all industry sectors, covering subjects such as renewable energy; dual grid installation; insulation training; energy, water and waste minimisation; green plumbing; automotive gas refitting; and ecologically sustainable building design and construction.
NSI also offer carbon accounting and applied environmental management courses.
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