Report by Dr Su Wild-River, Deputy Manager,
The Australian National University Sustainability Office
Facilities and Services Division
Innovations Building 124
http://sustainability.anu.edu.au/green-projects/anu-green-precinct
Published by: The Australian National University
ISSN:
April 2013
Table of Contents
List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Executive Summary................................................................................................................................. 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A showcase green precinct ............................................................................................................. 5
1.1
Signage .................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2
Website ................................................................................................................................... 6
Energy and carbon emission reductions ......................................................................................... 7
2.1
Solar array ............................................................................................................................... 7
2.2
Energy Training ....................................................................................................................... 8
2.3
Strategic carbon off-sets ......................................................................................................... 8
2.4
Total energy and emission reductions .................................................................................... 9
Water savings ................................................................................................................................ 10
3.1
Synthetic turf conversion of Willows Oval ............................................................................ 10
3.2
Extension of treated effluent ................................................................................................ 10
3.3
Couch Grass Conversion of Fellows Oval .............................................................................. 11
3.4
Licence to use Sullivan’s Creek water ................................................................................... 11
3.5
Total water savings ............................................................................................................... 11
Communication, demonstration and community uptake ............................................................ 12
4.1
Sustainability Events ............................................................................................................. 12
4.2
International Alliance of Research University projects ......................................................... 13
4.3
ANUgreen internships ........................................................................................................... 15
4.4
Sustainability videos ............................................................................................................. 16
4.5
Green Key App ...................................................................................................................... 17
4.6
On-line fact sheets ................................................................................................................ 17
4.7
Outdoor learning space......................................................................................................... 18
Increased corporate engagement in sustainability....................................................................... 18
5.1
Longitudinal GreenSteps ....................................................................................................... 19
5.2
Coursework assignments and student project time ............................................................. 19
5.3
Environmental professional development............................................................................ 20
Increased active transport and long-distance cycling................................................................... 22
6.1
Go Green Get Lean ................................................................................................................ 22
6.2
Secure bicycle parking........................................................................................................... 22
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
2
List of Tables
Table 1: Green Precinct project targets and outcomes .......................................................................... 4
Table 2: Calculating Energy and Emission Reductions ............................................................................ 9
Table 3: Calculating Water Savings ....................................................................................................... 11
Table 4: Calculating Points of Contact .................................................................................................. 13
Table 5: Calculating Project time on IARU internship project stipends ................................................ 14
Table 6: Calculating Project Hours on ANUgreen, Green Precincts Internships ................................... 15
Table 7: Sustainability Videos ............................................................................................................... 17
Table 8: On-line fact sheets .................................................................................................................. 17
Table 9: GreenSteps placements .......................................................................................................... 19
Table 10: Green Precincts Coursework projects ................................................................................... 19
Table 11: Environmental Professional Development from Green Precincts Project ............................ 21
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ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
Executive Summary
The Australian National University (ANU) Green Precincts Project (GPP) focused on sustainability in a
research and higher educational setting. The project ran from 2009 to 2012 with a total cost of
$3,121,340 with funding of $1,032,980 by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts
Fund and $2,088,360 by the ANU to achieve the outcomes listed in Table 1. The report is structured
around the targets, with sections describing each of the outcomes shown in bold.
Table 1: Green Precinct project targets and outcomes
Project targets
1. A showcase green
precinct
Outcome achieved
 Signage installed at Green Precincts sites at ANU.
 Website overhaul including Green Precincts project details.
2.
Energy and carbon
emission reductions
3.
Water savings
4.
Communication,
demonstration and
community uptake
5.
Increased corporate
engagement in
sustainability
 Concessions Building solar array producing 21.6Mwh per year of green
energy for 20 years = 432Mwh. Emission reductions over 20 years from
solar array = 385tCO2e.
 Energy and carbon training completed by 33 people.
 Plus strategic carbon offsets of 8,571tCO2e.
 These initiatives will deliver total energy reductions of 432Mwh and
emission reductions of 8955tCO2e.
 Synthetic turf conversion of Willows Oval with subsurface stormwater
harvest.
 Extension of treated effluent to University Avenue and Fellows Oval.
 Couch Grass conversion of Fellows Oval
 Licence obtained to use Sullivan’s Creek water for landscape irrigation.
 These initiatives will deliver total water savings of 39 ML per year.
 Sustainability events with Green Precincts themes, including Celebrate
Sustainability Day, Great Green Debate and Earth Hour generating 6,526
points of contact.
 3 students from the International Alliance of Research University
internship projects investing a total of 630 hours on Green Precincts
projects.
 15 ANU students spent a total of 850 hours on paid ANUgreen
internships with a Green Precincts focus.
 7 On-line sustainability videos, including one published already on
‘Campus as Classroom’.
 The iPhone Green Key App enabling students living on campus to assess
their energy and water use, and achieve improvements.
 6 Green Precincts project results have been published in on-line fact
sheets.
 Outdoor learning space at the first ANU 6-star building.
 8 Longitudinal GreenSteps ran for three years each in different host
organisations, investing 2,160 hours of project time.
 121 students undertook Green Precinct-related coursework projects,
investing a total of 3,650 hours of student project time.
 A total of 1,442 points of environmental professional development
were generated on Green Precincts projects, using the Certified
Environmental Practitioner scale.
 50 people participated in the “Go-Green-Get-Lean” training session.
 More than 200 new secure bicycle parking spaces installed.
Increased active transport
and long-distance cycling
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
4
1.
A showcase green precinct
ANU strives to be an international leader in campus sustainability as part of providing graduates with
the knowledge and skills needed to realise a more sustainable society. With two international
awards, and a string of local awards for its environmental management initiatives, ANU was making
progress towards its goals even before the Green Precincts project provided further impetus.
An overarching goal of the ANU Green Precincts project was to create a showcase of sustainability in
the higher education sector. This section describes outcomes that demonstrate sustainability within
the landscape.
1.1
Signage
The ANU Green Precincts project delivered three large
infrastructure projects. These are described in detail later
on, but included an artificial turf oval with integrated
stormwater collection, the extension of recycled effluent
to new areas of the campus, and the installation of a large
photovoltaic array on the Concessions Building, within
which the ANU Students’ Association is located.
Signage was used at all three sites to highlight the
presence of sustainability infrastructure, and to recognise
the valuable contribution of the Green Precincts Project.
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ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
1.2
Website
The ANUgreen Website contains details of the Green Precinct project undertaken at the ANU,
including publication of this report. Prior to the Green Precincts Project, the website contained out
of date information and was not consistent with the current branding of the ANU. The Green
Precincts project supported a general overhaul of the ANUgreen website. A snapshot of the front
page is below, with the three images each showcasing Green Precincts project outputs. These
include the Green Key App, which is described in Section 4.5, the on-line videos from Section 4.4,
and Earth Hour which is in Section 4.1 below.
The new ANUgreen/Sustainability Office website is at: http://sustainability.anu.edu.au
The Green Precincts page is at: http://sustainability.anu.edu.au/green-projects/anu-green-precinct
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
6
2.
Energy and carbon emission reductions
2.1
Solar array
The Green Precincts project funded solar array on the ANU Concessions Building is now producing
21.6Mwh per year of green energy. This project was further supported by Longitudinal GreenSteps
projects that identified energy efficiency options for the Student Union, which is located within this
building.
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ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
2.2
Energy Training
To support the ANU goal of reducing energy use and carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2015, the
Green Precincts Project funded energy specialists Energetics to design and run an Energy and Carbon
Training Couse. The course drew on Energetics strong capacity in certified energy training and all
modules were tailored to ANU. The course structure and learning activities referred to ANU energy
management systems wherever possible so that outcomes could be applied directly to campus
energy savings.
33 staff and students completed the two-day training course (consisting of four half-day modules
taken over two months) including 14 Facilities and Services staff, 15 other professional staff from
central areas and each academic college, two students, one academic and the ACTsmart Energy
Assessor from the ACT Government, whose role includes energy and water assessments for ACT
government sites.
The final activity for the course was the preparation of a real-life energy reduction proposal.
Outcomes are already apparent, with several proposals to ANU Green Funds already inspired and
tested through the Energy and Carbon Training Course. The photograph shows staff and students
who received certificates for Carbon and Energy training course completion.
2.3
Strategic carbon off-sets
In addition to its concerted and ongoing efforts to improve energy efficiency, ANU also manages its
carbon emission footprint through high quality carbon off-sets. In 2011, ANU purchased 8,571
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
8
tonnes of Voluntary Carbon Standard credits from the Native Forest Protection Project in Tasmania
to off-set 7% of its total carbon footprint.
Voluntary Carbon Standard off-sets were the highest quality available in Australia at the time of
purchase, and this project was selected for its consistency with ANU research interests in
connectivity conservation. The project not only protects the existing carbon sinks, but also conserves
Tasmania’s rich biodiversity. This is particularly important given the large number of endemic species
found on the island. The Tasmanian devil, a carnivorous marsupial only found in Tasmania, for
example, is listed as a vulnerable species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act and is known to live in the project area. Tasmania’s unique biodiversity
is further characterized by twelve species of birds that can be found nowhere else on earth but on
the island.
2.4
Total energy and emission reductions
The combined impact over the life of these projects is the generation of 432 megawatt hours of
green electricity, and the reduction of 8,955 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions.
Table 2: Calculating Energy and Emission Reductions
Energy Savings
Average green energy generated by Concessions Building solar array = 21.6Mwh
Green energy generated by Concessions Building solar array over 20 years = 21.6 x 20 = 432Mwh
Carbon Savings
Average annual carbon savings from green energy generated at Concessions Building = 19.2tCO2e
Total carbon savings achieved over 20 years at Concessions Building = 19.2 x 20 = 388tCO2e.
One-off emissions savings from strategic carbon off-sets = 8,571tCO2e
Total carbon savings = 8,571 + 388 = 8,955tCO2e
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ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
3.
Water savings
3.1
Synthetic turf conversion of Willows Oval
Willows Oval was disconnected from the treated effluent supply in 2010 when the surface was
converted to synthetic turf. As part of this project a 500 kilolitre (kL) underground water tank was
installed to collect surface run off from Willows Oval. Because it is constantly being filled and used,
this tank is expected to collect 5 megalitres (ML) of stormwater per annum and the water is used to
irrigate the landscaped surrounding Willows oval.
The irrigated landscapes adjacent to several buildings at North Road were disconnected from
potable water in early 2012. Landscape irrigation is now supplied from the rainwater tank at Willows
Oval achieving an annual reduction in potable water of 1ML.
The photographs show the Minister for Water, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Vice Chancellor Ian
Chubb and project managers at the launch of the oval in 2010.
3.2
Extension of treated effluent
In 2010-2011 the treated
effluent water main was
extended from Willows Oval to
the landscapes at University
Avenue and Fellows Oval. This
project resulted in an average
potable water reduction of
15ML each year.
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
10
3.3
Couch Grass Conversion of Fellows Oval
ANU made further water savings in 2011 by converting
the surface of Fellows Oval to couch grass. Couch grass
is more hard-wearing than traditional rye grass and can
survive on 30% - 50% less water. A saving of 30%
equates to 3ML per year. Fellows oval is irrigated with
recycled treated effluent however the couch conversion
will allow the treated effluent system to extend to the
adjacent landscape at Chifley Meadow thus allowing a
further reduction in potable water.
3.4
Licence to use Sullivan’s Creek water
The Green Precinct Project enabled ANU to purchase a licence to use Sullivan’s Creek water for
landscape irrigation. This option has not yet been taken up, but in the future, irrigation with creek
water could eliminate a further 15ML of potable water from the landscape.
3.5
Total water savings
The combined impact of the Willow’s Oval conversion with underground tank, the use of that water
in the surrounding landscape and North Road, the extension of treated effluent systems and the
couch grass conversion is an average annual saving of 39ML of potable water. That is a reduction of
approximately 38 per cent of the potable water that was used in the ANU landscape in 2009.
Table 3: Calculating Water Savings
Initiative
Willows oval tank for irrigating surrounding areas
North Road extension of Willows Oval irrigation system
Treated effluent extension to Fellows Oval and University Avenue
Couch grass conversion, Fellows Oval
Total
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ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
Annual Savings (ML)
5
1
15
3
39
4.
Communication, demonstration and community uptake
ANU considers the community to be the driving force behind environmental outcomes achieved in
any organisation. The ANU Environmental Management Plan recognises this by putting people first.
The goal is to increase community awareness of environmental issues, to foster their active
engagement in improving campus environmental performance and to celebrate successes together.
The Green Precincts Project supported seven major initiatives focusing on communication,
demonstration and community uptake for sustainability.
4.1
Sustainability Events
The Green Precincts project was highlighted at six major events over three years.
ANU Sustainability Learning Community hosts annual Great Green Debates to focus community
attention on contentious issues of national environmental significance. The 2010 debate took place
during National Water Week. The topic of debate was ‘Water resources in Australia are a
fundamental constraint to population growth’. The Debate was organised by the student-led
‘Sustainability Learning Community (SLC)’
together with the ANU Sustainability Office
to ensure maximum community
participation.
The 2010 event was a big success with
about 130 in attendance, and a passionate,
informative and lively debate. Several
media and other promotional outcomes
have resulted. Su Wild-River (Deputy
Manager of ANUgreen and debater)
completed a live-to-air interview with 2CC
on the day of the debate.
Another annual event is Celebrate
Sustainability Day, which aims to start
the process of engaging new students
and staff in sustainability through
‘delight not fright’. Stalls are hosted by
any organisation involved in delivering
positive environmental gains on
campus. Passports are provided to
participants, who gain a stamp for every
stall that they visit. This serves to
achieve face-to-face communication
with a range of individuals directly
involved in sustainability initiatives. Students are offered the chance to join email lists (such as
Sustainability Learning Community and Ride-To-Uni) so that they can keep in touch throughout the
year.
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
12
Green Precincts funding supported the 2011 event, at which over 500 passports were handed out. A
record 1868 stamps were counted from participants, showing that there were 1,868 times over the
whole day where students engaged in a discussion about sustainability. A Ride to Uni breakfast,
sausage sizzle, live music and a great range of stallholders made for a very successful event.
Earth Hour at ANU coincides with
the international event, and
includes a Vice Chancellor
supported attempt to switch off all
unnecessary power for the
weekend. Acoustic music, fire
twirling and other acts with
minimal energy footprints are
included. The Green Precincts
project sponsored the 2011 event,
but the project was also
highlighted during 2010 and 2012.
Table 4: Calculating Points of Contact
Event
Great Green Debate 2010
Celebrate Sustainability Day 2011
Celebrate Sustainability Day 2012
Earth Hour 2010
Earth Hour 2011
Earth Hour 2012
Total
4.2
Points of Contact
160
1,868
1,698
700
900
1,200
6,526
International Alliance of Research University projects
The International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) is a collaboration between ten of the
world’s leading research-intensive universities who share similar visions for higher education, in
particular the education of future leaders.
ANU partnered with Yale University in 2006 to establish an annual IARU Sustainability Exchange,
where selected students from each university undertake a four-to-six week exchange with other
IARU partners. The exchange program has now expanded to include the research Universities of
Oxford, Cambridge, Berkeley, Zurich, Singapore, Peking, Copenhagen and Tokyo.
The Green Precincts Project funded three IARU exchange projects from 2010 to 2012.
In 2010 Marissa Van Epp from Oxford University developed a guide to implementing sustainable
practices on university campuses. The resulting Sustainability Toolkit and How-To Guide have been
published on the IARU website. It provides guidance and examples to assist universities to establish
13
ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
and implement environmental management plans and programs, incorporating measurement, goalsetting, implementation and education.
David Skophammer from Yale University and Nikhila Ravi from Cambridge both undertook IARU
projects that were integrated with other ANU student work. They built on the 2008 research by ANU
student David Noble, which showed that ANU students living in halls of residence were using high
levels of ‘phantom power’. Phantom power is the electricity used by appliances when they are not in
use and includes televisions and other equipment on stand-by, battery-chargers left on while
nothing is charging and so on. David’s project developed a rich database and audit tool for
calculating the carbon footprint of an individual room. This was followed by a GreenSteps project by
Kiko de Guzman which found that the tool was too complicated to be run by Green Representatives
in halls of residence, and needed simplifying. Nikhila’s project simplified the original audit tool and
created an iPhone App to enable individual students to calculate the environmental footprint of
their rooms directly. The App was readied for on-line publication by a fifth student – Victor
Wibisono.
Table 5: Calculating Project time on IARU internship project stipends
Project
Marissa Vane Epp, 2010. “How to Guide” for implementing sustainability
in higher education.
David Skophammer, 2011. Audit tool for halls of residence.
Nikhila Ravi, 2012. Iphone app to encourage energy and water savings in
halls of residence.
Total
Hours of project time on stipend
210
210
210
630
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
14
4.3
ANUgreen internships
ANU provides opportunities for students to enhance their environmental education by undertaking a
sustainability internship. The internships offered allow students to participate in training and
projects at ANU or at an overseas university.
The ANUgreen Sustainability Internship program is designed to give students experience working on
campus sustainability projects within the ANUgreen office. Students work on projects ranging from
energy and water conservation initiatives, behaviour change campaigns/marketing, project
management and green building studies. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Internships are typically valued at $1,200 and include fifty hours of work. Occasionally, a high priority
project will receive a double internship. Projects can be undertaken during term time or during
holidays and semester breaks. At the end of the internship, interns provide ANUgreen with a report
detailing the outcomes of the project. Many lead to practical outcomes.
From 2010 to 2012, the Green Precincts Project funded fifteen ANUgreen internships, including two
double internships. The project titles are listed in Table 6 and indicate the project hours that were
completed.
Table 6: Calculating Project Hours on ANUgreen Green Precincts Internships
Project
Paid project hours
Bista, S. (2012). “A comparative analysis of the ACT Government's 'Weathering the
Change: Draft Action Plan 2: Pathway to a sustainable and carbon neutral
ACT" and ANU Environmental Management Plan.”
Bullock, J. (2011). “Rooftop analysis of photovoltaic potential”.
Christoe, S. (2010). “Sustainable Campus Dining at Bruce Hall”.
Coonan, E. (2011). “Building thermal envelope project”.
Holyman, B. (2012). “Plan for promoting carpooling”.
Khor, J. (2011). “A Greener ANU Car Fleet”.
Leonardo, M. (2010). “An Assessment of Available Options for a Carbon Offset
Scheme at ANU”
Melati (2011). “Organise Celebrate Sustainability Day.”
Melati (2011). “Commuter Facility Audit”.
Nguyen, V. (2010). “Usage of water bottles and water fountains on campus”.
Tarzia, M. (2010). “Student Project Catalogue for ANUgreen projects”.
Tebecis, M. (2010). “International Sustainable Campus Network ANU case study”.
Tian, M. (2010).
“Cost Effectiveness of ANU Sustainability Initiatives.
Rutherford, S. (2012), GreenSteps administration
Ummal Warra, M. (2012) “Draft Green Precincts Final Report”
Total
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ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
100
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
100
50
850
4.4
Sustainability videos
In 2011 ANU received a ‘highly commended’ Green Gowns
award for its learning and teaching programs on sustainability.
The award sponsors requested that ANU develop an on-line
video to showcase its sustainability learning and teaching
programs. Green Precincts Funding applied to this project, and
a Campus as Classroom video was published on the ANU website. » watch video
Positive feedback from the Campus as Classroom video led to approval to direct other Green
Precincts funding towards a further set of videos on a range of sustainability themes. This new set of
edgy videos introduce lead character – Brock Lee, Environmental Legend – as the champion of six
new on-line videos to encourage sustainable choices. URLs for all videos are in Table 7.
In Turning Stuff Off, Brock Lee provides some tips on how to
reduce energy waste, power bills and carbon emissions –
“Apparently that’s a real turn-on”. » watch video
Making a Splash focuses on
conserving water on campus. It encourages water-saving
behaviour and showcases big initiatives such as the Green
Precincts artificial turf playing field with its subsurface
stormwater harvest facilities. » watch video
Talking Garbage aims to reduce waste on campus. Brock Lee
explains how most material waste streams can be recycled at
the ANU. » watch video
Dress for the Weather focuses on wearing the right clothes to
reduce the university’s need to over-heat buildings in winter,
and air condition intensely in the summer. In the video Brock
Lee provides some tips on how to cut power bills and carbon emissions. » watch video
Working on Campus focuses on the roles staff can play in
improving sustainability credentials of the ANU campus. It
includes tips on reducing the environmental impact of work
activities (although ANU does not endorse some of the extreme
measures shown here – such as dive-tackling everyone who
doesn’t recycle. » watch video
Living on Campus gives students ideas about what they can do to
reduce their environmental footprint while living on campus.
» watch video
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
16
Table 7: Sustainability Videos
Video
Campus as Classroom
Dress for the Weather
Energy
Living on campus
Garbage
Water
Working on Campus
4.5
URL
http://www.anu.edu.au/vision/videos/5691/
http://www.anu.edu.au/vision/videos/8441/
http://www.anu.edu.au/vision/videos/8431/
http://www.anu.edu.au/vision/videos/8481/
http://www.anu.edu.au/vision/videos/8421/
http://www.anu.edu.au/vision/videos/8411/
http://www.anu.edu.au/vision/videos/8401/
Green Key App
The Green Key iPhone App was described above under 4.2 International Alliance of Research
University Projects but is worthy of mention as a stand-alone product.
The iPhone App is now available on-line and can be downloaded free at the App Store with a search
of ‘ANU Green Key’, and is also available on-line.
Importantly, the Green Key iPhone App has been designed for further sharing. The calculations are
structured to enable simple conversion to other areas, through relatively simple incorporation of
alternative emissions factors and utilities tariffs. ANU is continuing to refine and improve the iPhone
App to encourage its uptake by other universities, and also to add a facility for retaining and
analysing the results that are received.
4.6
On-line fact sheets
ANUgreen has published a set of on-line fact sheets to show progress towards sustainability goals
and objectives. Many relate to individual projects that have delivered clear environmental
outcomes.
Since 2010, six on-line fact sheets have been published as a result of Green Precincts Projects. These
are listed in Table 8.
Table 8: On-line fact sheets
Fact Sheet
Communicating sustainability in a multicultural society
ACT Government energy and water use
National Gallery carbon inventory
Southern Cross Early Childhood School
ANU emissions inventory
Retrofitting buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
17
ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
4.7
Outdoor learning space
ANU aims to create buildings that are comfortable and sustainable. The Frank Fenner Building
demonstrates world’s best practice in terms of environmental design. ANU is currently seeking a six
star Design and As-Built Green Star rating for the building.
This is the first time that the ANU has sought a Green Star rating. We selected the building which is
now housing the Climate Change Institute and Fenner School of Environment and Society for this
initiative because of the strong resonance between that goal and the primary purpose of the
tenants. In 2012 the building won a Sustainable Cities Award for “Sustainable Cities and Grounds”.
The Green Precincts Project assisted by funding an Outdoor Learning Space at the Frank Fenner
Building. Tables in the area can just be seen to the right hand side of the picture below. The space
incorporates tables and chairs made out of recycled plastic and WiFi connectivity. The area is
regularly being used by students.
5.
Increased corporate engagement in sustainability
Awareness of sustainability and its application in the workplace and community is essential to the
development of informed leaders and change agents for a sustainable future. Universities and higher
education institutions have a social imperative in ensuring opportunities are available for students to
excel in sustainability research and practice. The Green Precincts corporate engagement initiatives
have provided opportunities to students from different disciplines to take part in sustainability
outreach with corporate entities.
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
18
5.1
Longitudinal GreenSteps
The Longitudinal GreenSteps program is an innovative green office training course for students that
covers environmental auditing, project planning, strategic communication and change management,
which is complemented by an internship placement with a host organisation.
Between 2009 and 2011 the ANU Green Precincts Project supported eight students per year to
undertake projects at eight host organisations. In total, each of these host organisations received
three GreenSteps students over the course of the three years. Host organisations were selected on
the basis of significant likely environmental gains, and a high expectation that lessons learned in
these workplaces could be duplicated elsewhere. The longitudinal approach enabled the
organisations to first measure baseline environmental conditions, set goals, establish strategies, and
then measure any outcomes that had been achieved.
There has not yet been the opportunity for a comprehensive review of project outcomes. But Table
9 lists the host organisations, and the hours that have been invested in these projects.
Table 9: GreenSteps placements
GreenSteps Placement
Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment
National Convention Centre
National Gallery of Australia
ANU Students Association
Southern Cross Early Childhood School
University of Canberra Water Management
Indigenous Business Australia
Palerang Council
Total
5.2
Total project hours
270
270
270
270
270
270
270
270
2,160
Coursework assignments and student project time
The ANU Sustainability Office works with lecturers from across the campus to create student
projects that benefit ANU environmental objectives and allow students to gain credit for their work.
From 2009 to 2012 a total of 121 ANU students completed coursework assignments related to the
Green Precinct Project. These ranged across all levels of the university curriculum, from
undergraduate, to masters and PhD projects. Some were group projects, others individual
assignments and some large projects were tackled by several groups simultaneously. In each case,
the research findings were reported to the managers of the relevant practical project, so this acted
as both a real-world topic for students, and peer review of the sustainability work being undertaken
by the university.
Table 10 lists the coursework assignments completed for Green Precincts and the number of student
hours that were invested in each project.
Table 10: Green Precincts Coursework projects
Project
South Oval Stormwater Harvesting Project – Anticipated pay-back period and Green
Loan Fund application
Most cost-effective options for achieving water reduction targets
Energy saving options at other buildings including Kioloa and Mount Stromlo
Observatory
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ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
Student hours
780
360
330
Green Information Communication Technology
Options for achieving carbon reductions at the Students Association building
Best options to achieve a Carbon Neutral Manning Clark Centre
Cost effectiveness of converting heating from electric to gas at B&G, Bruce Hall
Most cost-effective options for achieving carbon emission reductions
Solar air conditioner project
Earth Hour project
Chifley library energy saving options
Managing Methane at Palerang
Sustainability Advances for Dickson Motor Vehicle Registry
Energy Efficient Street lighting for Palerang
Carbon off-set options for ANU
Risa PhD
Total
5.3
300
300
300
240
210
180
180
150
90
90
60
30
50
3,650
Environmental professional development
The Professional Development log used in the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) Scheme is highly relevant to the ANU Sustainability
Office. The code of ethics underpinning the CEnvP Scheme is informally adhered to by all in the
office, and formally used by the Deputy Manager, who was the first ANU CEnvP. The professional
development scale provides formal benchmarking for CEnvPs, ensuring that they continue to extend
themselves, remain connected to colleagues and developments within the relatively new industry
sector of environmental professionalism.
The CEnvP scale awards points for professional activities that go beyond normal office work.
Attendance at conferences and training sessions, pro bono contributions to environmental
campaigns and the like accrue one point per hour. More intensive contributions such as running
training courses, presenting conference papers and publishing results in refereed journals accrue
multiple points for finished products.
Table 11 shows the results gained by applying the CEnvP scale to the professional development
activities delivered by the ANU Green Precincts Project. A total of 1,442 points was accrued to
professionals at the ANU according to this scale. Considering that Environmental Practitioners are
required to undertake 50 hours of professional development each two years, this is a strong
outcome, representing over two years worth of environmental professional development for 28
practitioners.
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
20
Table 11: Environmental Professional Development from Green Precincts Project
Activity
Points*
Greensteps 12 students per year in training (12 students over 3 years, 1 hour per year)
Presentation at Tokyo Colloquium
International Sustainable Campus Network awards 2009
Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability conference 2010 presentation
Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability conference 2009 presentation
People at EIANZ paper - Su
Green Precincts Special Lecture to Corporate Sustainability Students 2010
Green Precincts Special Lecture to Corporate Sustainability Students 2011
Green Precincts Special Lecture to Managing for Sustainability Students 2011
Green Precincts Special Lecture to Green Rep action planning workshop 2010
Minimum Green Workshops. 30 staff received 4.5 hours of training
Energy and carbon training. 33 staff received 16 hours of training
Gungahlin College tour, emphasising Green Precincts infrastructure
Green Precincts Special Presentation to International Alliance of Research University
sustainability Directors
36
10
10
10
10
10
5
5
5
5
1056
270
5
5
Total
1,442
*Based on Certified Environmental Practitioner Continuing Professional Development criteria
The photograph shows the Gungahlin College tour of the ANU campus, which emphasised the Green
Precincts infrastructure. This shows eight environmental students from the college at the Outdoor
Learning Space that was delivered from Green Precincts Funds at the Frank Fenner Building.
21
ANUgreen PRECINCTS FINAL REPORT
6.
Increased active transport and long-distance cycling
6.1
Go Green Get Lean
Go Green Get Lean (GGGL) is a bike to work program coordinated by the ANU Sustainability Office.
The initiative aims to emphasize the combined environmental and health benefits of riding a bicycle
in order to increase the number of employees regularly commuting on a bicycle to work. The goal of
the program is to encourage and enable participants to bike to work three days a week by the end of
the ten week time period.
The program has the specific goal of:
•
Increasing in the number of university staff and students using active transport to commute
to university, and in particular, long-distance cyclists.
•
Improving fitness levels and weight loss.
•
Reducing stress levels and changes for healthier lifestyles.
50 people participated in the Green Precincts supported Go Green Get Lean Program in 2011.
6.2
Secure bicycle parking
During the term of the ANU Green Precincts Project, and to support an increase in long-distance
cycle commuting, ANU invested in new Commuter Resource Facilities with secure bicycle parking.
210 new secure bicycle parking spaces were added to the Acton campus. For the first time, this
included secure bicycle parking spaces for undergraduate students not living on campus.
A project funded by the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund
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