An environmental audit is the process of monitoring and measuring the use of resources. It reveals where resources are being managed in a way that meets accepted standards, and where they are being managed in a way that does not. Once an environmental audit has been completed the school can initiate an Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The EMP is developed in response to the environmental audit. When an audit finds that resources are being managed in a way that does not meet accepted standards, it is important to develop a plan to overcome specific environmental problems.

How to go about an environmental audit:

A good way to go about an environmental audit is to establish environmental action teams who will carry out various parts of the audit:

• Elect an environmental committee to initiate and oversee environmental activities. Ideally the committee should include teachers, students and parents.
• Form action teams to carry out environmental activities. Action teams could, for example, comprise students from one class who tackle a particular environmental area of concern.
• Each action team should elect an auditor who will be responsible for collating the data collected by team members.

Steps for performing an environmental audit:

• Step 1: Choose an environmental area of concern, e.g. water or energy use, waste materials or conserving the natural environment.
• Step 2: Conduct an environmental audit, e.g. gather information on how much water is being wasted or how much litter is being created in what areas and at what times.
• Step 3: Using the information from your audit, identify specific areas needing improvement.
• Step 4: Develop an environmental plan to achieve improvements.
• Step 5: Implement your environmental management plan.
• Step 6: Evaluate your environmental management plan and identify areas for further improvememt.

Activities for an environmental audit:

Energy: The production of forms of energy such as electricity consumes precious resources and causes pollution. It is therefore important to use energy wisely.

• Make a list of all the activities at school that use energy.
• Try to identify the source of energy used for each activity and the environmental consequences of the use of these energy sources (e.g. fossil fuels, hydroelectric power, electricity or solar power).
• Obtain copies of the school's electricity bills and work out how much electricity is used per person in the school. Find out why the electricity bill varies at different times of the year. The same process can be undertaken for water.

Wise use of materials: By using materials wisely at school you can reduce resource use, reduce pressure on landfills and disposal costs, and earn income from the sale of recycleable materials.

• Survey all the rubbish bins in your school and record how much rubbish each contains. Do this at different times of the week and day and try to work out why your results could be different.
• Select a full bin and empty its contents onto a plastic sheet. Separate rubbish into categories of paper, glass, metal, wood, cartons, plastics, chemicals and compostable food.
• Calculate how much of the rubbish could be recycled and minimised.
• Find out where you can recycle goods in your area and initiate a recycling campaign in your school.

Caring for plants and animals: Plants and animals are an essential part of the natural environment. They provide a beauty we can all appreciate and are important in maintaining the natural processes vital for human survival.

• Identify areas on your schoolground where plants grow. Find out which plants are indigenous, which are exotic, and which are weeds.
• Decide which parts of your schoolgrounds could be made more attractive by planting plants.
• Find out which indigenous plants are suited to the area and make arrangements to create a garden with indigenous plants.
• List the types of birds or other animals that visit your schoolgrounds and try to find ways to lure more birds, e.g. by installing bird feeders or bird baths.
• These are just a few suggested activities. You will be able to think of many other ideas.

Where to get information:

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Private Bag X447
PRETORIA
0001
Ms Maria Moate: (012) 310 3628