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Environment

 

Greening UniSA

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.
 


Environmental Manager

UniSA has taken a key step in appointing Adrian Marshall as Environmental Manager. His role entails developing and implementing the University’s Environmental Management System and coordinating UniSA programs to significantly reduce its carbon footprint by 2020. Most importantly Adrian will positively influence cultural change with the rollout of environmental initiatives across the University campuses.
 


Joint Commitment with ATN Universities to Reduce Carbon 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.

The ATN has formed an Emissions Reduction Working Group with the aim to formulate and agree on suitable emission and/or energy reduction targets for the ATN Group of Universities, and to formulate a draft statement of commitment for the February 2009 ATN Conference.

This will be measured in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. As ATN Universities also acknowledge the need to promote teaching and learning in regards to sustainability issues, the network is proud to be one of the first to implement a graduate certificate in carbon management.
 

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Member of the Greenhouse Challenge Plus

The Greenhouse Challenge Plus enables Australian companies to form working partnerships with the Australian Government to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. UniSA has been a member of the challenge since 2003, which enables UniSA to effectively measure and manage its carbon emissions and contribute to making a nation wide difference.

Measurement has shown that over a short period of time UniSA has already made a difference. For example through UniSA initiatives, “approximately 692 tonnes of paper is recycled each year, equating to 623 tonnes of CO2-e.” As a member UniSA, is able to more effectively benchmark itself with other universities. As statistics showed “in the latest survey (year ending 2006), the average energy consumption at UniSA (kWhr/sqm) was approximately 27% less than all other Australian universities.”

Membership ensures UniSA is striving towards the highest standards and leads in the challenge towards climate change. As a member of the Greenhouse Challenge, UniSA has committed itself to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 6,801 tonnes (or 28%) per annum. Through the Greenhouse Challenge, UniSA will put in place cost effective actions to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and to encourage its staff and other organisations to implement similar measures.

As a member UniSA is agreeing to:

Extract from: http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/challenge/members/about.html)
 

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Staff Education

An education program to reduce, reuse and recycle for staff has been implemented to reduce energy consumption, waste sent to landfill, and increase recycling. These practices are encouraged in practical ways including the implementation of paper recycling boxes under all desks, whilst limiting waste bins to the kitchen, recycling other products including plastic, aluminium, and steel though bins allocated in the kitchen and participation in the Adelaide City Council’s cardboard recycling program. Encouraging these practices is vital as it enables employees to act with environmental awareness within their day to day working environment.
 


Facilities Management Unit Environmental Strategies

The UniSA Facilities Management Unit has developed a range of strategies to address all areas where action can be implemented.


Green Star Rating

The Green Building Council of Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation that is committed to developing a sustainable property industry for Australia by encouraging the adoption of green building practices.

All new UniSA buildings will maintain a minimum five star green star rating as awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia. UniSA aims to enhance its Green Star rating by taking advantage of environmentally friendly building concepts such as the use of natural light, rain water storage tanks, building management systems and chilled beam air conditioning technology.
 

Energy Management

The installation and implementation of the interactive energy management system (IEMS) was completed at the end of 2004. The IEMS enables energy use not only to be accurately measured and recorded; but also actively monitored and load shed at times of peak demand to ensure the usage parameters agreed with the University’s energy provider are not exceeded. Through the IEMS strategy it is estimated that savings of 700,000 kWh (700 tonnes CO2-e) per annum have been achieved.

At City West Campus, gas boosted solar hot water services have been installed on the Kaurna, Dorrit Black and Hawke buildings have been installed to reduce electricity consumption.

UniSA is currently investigating options to provide green power to all facilities.
 

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Waste Management and Recycling

UniSA currently diverts significant volumes of waste from landfill through on campus recycling programs. 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.
 

Water Efficiency and Conservation

Campus water conservation programs implemented since 2002 now save over 30% per annum of the Uni SA’s potable water use. This is an important saving that reduces reliance on the ailing River Murray supply. This saving is set to increase with Mawson Lakes Campus gaining the use of recycled, class A treated water for non potable uses in new buildings and irrigating open space through partnership with the Mawson Lakes Joint Venture, SA Water and the City of Salisbury. Rain water is also captured at Mawson Lakes and stored in wetlands and underground rainwater tanks for use on campus open-spaces.
 

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. UniSA is also trialling a MPG-Caps vehicle fuel tablet for use in UniSA cars to increase fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust particulate matter.

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 Uni SA’s travel with Hughes, UniSA staff are encouraged to ‘car pool’ when using Hughes Chauffeured Cars in order to reduce carbon output.
Staff and students are also encouraged to use public transport as UniSA has negotiated with service providers to run more regular and effective services to all campuses. UniSA provides secure bicycle parking for staff and students who cycle to work, and is increasing the bicycle storage areas available on all campuses.
 

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Maintenance and Operations

To save electricity Uni SA has installed push button controls for lighting and air conditioning in lecture theatres, tutorial rooms and offices. These manual controls reduce energy use by ensuring lights and air conditioning are not operating for long periods in unoccupied rooms. The effect of the push button controls is estimated to reduce 363,000 kWh per annum.

Uni SA Document Services print on Finsbury Green paper. This is because Finsbury actively pursue a policy of alleviating environmental impacts by adopting green technologies, new eco friendly products and devising new methods and processes. Document Services also take simple measures such as printing double sided unless otherwise specified and segregating paper and cardboard for recycling.
 

Research

UniSA actively participates in research to improve the environment through Schools and Research Centres.

 

BioCity@UniSA

BioCity@UniSA is based within the School of Natural and Built Environments, and is a research centre focused on the sustainability of cities, underpinned by values of community education and participation, and the conservation of biodiversity and the natural processes that sustain life.

The centre includes researchers from universities, government institutions, and private organisations who take a collaborative and multi-disciplinary research approach to addressing complex environmental issues.

Key areas of research have been identified in the six themes of BioCity@UniSA:

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Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies

Through the University’s Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, UniSA runs the Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies (ISST). The ISST is dedicated to developing systems and technologies that will sustain ecosystems and facilitate social and economic development, while optimising the use of natural resources, minimising waste, emissions and other environmental consequences, and reducing cost. In addition to research in environmental sustainability, and the forging of links with other bodies undertaking similar research, the ISST offers consultancy services, training for businesses and industries, and education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Research programs developed by the ISST encompass the following areas:

 

 


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