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Environmental Sustainability



UniSA's Sustainability Commitment

UniSA's commitment to sustainability is endorsed in the Vision, Mission and Values:

"UniSA contributes to environmentally, economically, socially and culturally sustainable development, and we aim to reduce our own environmental impact."

When addressing environmental issues UniSA aims to lead and act as an example to the community and with the right tools, collaboration and commitment, the University will meet its environmental goals.

A number of projects and initiatives undertaken by the Facilities Management Unit have already demonstrated a commitment to environmental sustainability


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Environmental Manager

UniSA has taken a key step in appointing an Environmental Manager to the Facilities Management Executive Leadership Group. The role entails developing and implementing the University's Environmental Management System and coordinating UniSA programs to significantly reduce its carbon footprint by 2020 and most importantly will positively influence cultural change with the rollout of environmental initiatives across the University campuses.

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Joint Commitment with ATN Universities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2020

The Australian Technology Network (ATN) is an influential alliance of five distinctive and prominent Australian Universities. The ATN's aim is to help secure Australia's reputation as the clever country, contributing to its social and economic wealth by building strategic partnerships and undertaking solution based research which is relevant to the expectations of industry and the community.

In February 2009 ATN Vice Chancellors made a commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the five universities to 25% less than 2007 levels by 2020. This will equate to a real reduction of 60,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year without considering the growth in emissions if a business as usual approach to the universities normal rate of growth were taken. Greenhouse gas emission savings will be achieved through energy efficiency projects, switching to alternative fuels and purchasing green power.

As ATN Universities also acknowledge the need to incorporate sustainability issues within the teaching and learning curriculum, the network is proud to be amongst the first universities to implement a graduate certificate in carbon management.

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Green Star Rating

All new UniSA buildings will achieve a minimum of five stars under the Green Star green building rating tools as awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia. The Green Star green building rating system is an industry recognized technical design guide to promote environmentally sustainable development. Green Star technical manuals have been developed by the Green Building Council of Australia to provide guidance for the design of various building types.

The Green Star environmental impact categories are as follows:

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UniSA's Energy Efficient Facilities

The Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association benchmark reports inform us that UniSA's facilities are leading the nation in energy efficiency.

Energy and greenhouse gas emission intensity of university facilities are measured and compared with the following indicators:

Projects including the installation of the interactive energy management system in 2004, power factor correction, on demand lighting and air conditioning in teaching spaces and load shedding during times of peak electricity demand all contribute to UniSA's energy efficient facilities. Through these projects it is estimated that savings of 700,000 kWh (700 tonnes CO2-e) per annum have been achieved.

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Facilities Management Unit Environmental Management Plan

The UniSA Facilities Management Unit is developing an Environmental Management Plan that addresses a range of strategies on the environmental themes of Energy and Climate Change, A Sustainable Water Supply, Waste to Resources and Ecological Systems.

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Energy and Climate Change

The cause of 90% of UniSA's direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions is the consumption of electricity to operate university facilities. Reducing the consumption of energy (electricity and gas) is the most cost-effective way to reduce UniSA's greenhouse gas emissions.

Options available to UniSA to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its facilities in order of preference are:

Energy conservation - avoiding unnecessary emissions, examples include switching off lights and computers when not in use;

Energy efficiency - modifications to building systems and equipment to run more efficiently, examples include changing light fittings and upgrading old equipment with new;

Fuel substitution - switching to fuels with lower greenhouse gas emission intensity, examples include substitution of natural gas for grid electricity, purchase of Green Power, on-site or offsite generation of renewable energy and use of renewable transport fuels; and

Offsetting emissions - accredited emission offsets can be a legitimate means to lower residual emissions that are unavoidable.

The Facilities Management Unit has set the following greenhouse gas emission reduction targets:

Indicator

2008

Target 2012

Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions

25,265 t CO2-e

23,750 t CO2-e    (-6%)

CO2-e per m2 of gross floor area 

107 kg CO2-e

100 kg CO2-e    (-6%)

CO2-e per EFTSL  (internal/onshore)

1.4 t CO2-e per EFTSL

1.3 t CO2-e per EFTSL   (-6%)

% of staff and students walking, cycling or using public transport to travel to campus

48%

70%    (+22%)

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A Sustainable Water Supply

UniSA's water conservation programs implemented since 2002 have reduced UniSA's annual consumption of potable water by 38%. This equates to a real saving of 91,506 KL of potable water each year that reduces UniSA's reliance on the ailing River Murray.

This saving of potable water is set to increase with Mawson Lakes Campus gaining the use of recycled, class A treated water for non potable uses within buildings and irrigating open space from SA Water Rain water is also captured at Mawson Lakes and stored in wetlands and underground rainwater tanks for use on campus open-spaces.

The Facilities Management Unit has set the following water use targets:

Indicator

2008 Level

Target 2012

Water use (potable and recycled)

129,487 kl

95,000 kl (-10%)

Potable water used per M2 of GFA

 kl per m2

kl per m2 (-27%)

Percentage of recycled water

2%

25%

Potable water used per EFTSL

7.86 kl per EFTSL

5.7 kl per EFTSL (-27%)

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Waste Management and Recycling

Recycling at UniSA includes office paper, cardboard, fluorescent lighting tubes and bottles and cans covered by Container Deposit Legislation. Currently approximately 35% of waste is recycled or used as a source of alternative fuel in the resources industry.

However, a recent waste audit undertaken by KESAB Environmental Solutions identified that up to 70% of waste in general waste bins could be recycled with a comprehensive recycling system across all campuses and facilities. UniSA is proud to report that 40% of waste is currently diverted from landfill but aims to increase this to 70% in the future with a recycling system at all campuses and facilities.

Indicator

2008 Level

Target 2012

Tonnes of waste

983.5 t

885 t (-10%)

Tonnes of waste disposed to landfill 

641.2 t

 416.8 t (-40%)

Tonnes of waste diverted from landfill to recycling

342.3 t

 465.6 t (+35%)

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Ecological systems

The use of local native vegetation in urban areas not only reduces demand for irrigated landscaping, but also increases habitats for native wildlife and can improve the quality of runoff water prior to storage and re-use. Additional benefits to green spaces on campus include ambient cooling and shade during high summer temperatures.

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Transportation

UniSA is exploring options to find the most environmentally friendly and cost effective transport solutions for staff and students. UniSA currently owns a fleet of 30 vehicles with 12 vehicles running on LPG. LPG powered vehicles are purchased when existing petrol and diesel powered vehicles come up for renewal.

UniSA subscribes all vehicles to the 'Greenfleet Vehicle' program; offsetting a total of 129 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Through this program native trees are planted to offset the vehicle fleets carbon emissions on an annual basis. UniSA also ensures the cars are not producing unnecessary carbon through the regular servicing of University vehicles to ensure optimum performance.

Hughes Chauffeured Limousines provide intercampus transportation for the UniSA staff. Conditions of Hughes contract with the UniSA include monthly reporting of carbon emissions that result from UniSA's travel with Hughes, UniSA staff are encouraged to 'car pool' when using Hughes Chauffeured Cars in order to reduce carbon output.

UniSA provides secure bicycle parking for staff and students who cycle to work, and is increasing the bicycle storage areas available on all campuses. Staff and students are encouraged to cycle to campus and make use of free secure bicycle storage facilities at City West, City East, City West and Magill campus. Access to secure bicycle storage facilities is granted by presenting your student card to the campus Security Office.

The benefits of public transport extend further than cheap tickets and spare time to read and listen to music while someone else does the driving, there are health benefits involved in walking from door to bus stop and bus stop to destination at either end not to mention the lower carbon footprint of public transport users.

High frequency bus services to Mawson Lakes include the 222, 224, 225 every 15 minutes and the Gawler train runs every 15 minutes.

Bus services to Magill campus include the 107x express on week day mornings and 106 every 15 minutes in the Go Zone.

For more information on route timetables and bus stop locations see the Adelaide Metro website. Enjoy the ride and know that you're doing your planet a favour.


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UniSA Environmental Sustainability Links

Barbara Hardy Centre for Sustainable Urban Environments

SA Water Centre for Water Management and Reuse

The Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation

The Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies

Ehrenberg-Bass Institute  

School of Natural and Built Environments

Green Information Technology Links

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