University operations and sustainability
The University's action on sustainability is guided by the world-wide university sector's Talloires Declaration. Education at all levels can shape the world of tomorrow, equipping individuals and societies with the skills, perspectives, knowledge and values to live and work in a sustainable way. The Talloires agreement includes a ten-point action plan to achieve this through teaching, research and operations.
The University is not only an educational institution, but one of the largest organisations in Victoria. The Parkville campus' buildings, staff and students form a large part of the City of Melbourne land area, infrastructure and population.
In 2007 The University of Melbourne adopted targets for reducing its carbon footprint with the aim of carbon neutrality by 2030. It undertook a major energy audit of the energy efficiency of 70 of the University's Parkville campus buildings, and work is currently being undertaken to greatly increase the efficiency of seven key buildings.
Since 2004, water consumption has dropped, through management of landscape watering on all campuses and creating efficiencies in water consumption in buildings and air conditioning plant.
Guiding the University's day-to-day activities are programs for water and energy saving, recycling and waste management and sustainable offices and laboratories.
For more information about Environmental Management Systems at the University please refer to the Sustainable Campus initiative undertaken by Property & Campus Services: http://sustainablecampus.unimelb.edu.au/
Sustainability Working Group: Creswick
Two years ago, the Creswick Campus joined Sustainability Victoria’s Waste Wise
program. Waste Wise is a practical, step-by-step program inspiring
Victorians to minimise waste and maximise the efficient use of valuable
resources.
As part of the program, the Sustainability Working Group created an
Action Plan leading to significant reductions in waste, energy and
water consumption and the award of a Bronze level certificate.
The Sustainability Working Group is now reviewing progress and can celebrate achievements, with highlights including:
• an 8% reduction in electricity use
• a 14% reduction in gas use
• a 70% reduction in water use (the baseline was from the bygone age before water restrictions)
• a 33% reduction in the number of kilometres driven (most staff now travel by train when they go to the Parkville Campus)
• polystyrene and cardboard recycling
• a 46% reduction in the amount of paper purchased.
A new Action Plan is under development to build on these achievements
and to tackle other aspects of Campus consumption and carbon emissions.
The new plan will be part of the Resource Smart Program, which has a
greater emphasis on water, transport, energy and waste.
For further information or to suggest opportunities to make the faculty
more environmentally sustainable, please contact Nick Williams at:
nsw@unimelb.edu.au
Greening Melbourne
Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne, Professor Glyn Davis, describes the many green initiatives active on campus. Please click here.