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On campus sustainability initiatives
Transport initiatives
- The University fleet consists of four Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles, reducing the use of fossil fuel and green house gas emissions.
- The latest Catering buggy is a purpose-built solar powered buggy that does not require electrical recharging under normal operational situations.
- The Greenlink reduces bus travel to Sippy Downs by some 10kms providing a more attractive public transport service to commuters. The link and end-of-ride Transit Centre represent a $6.4m investment. Stage 2 of the Greenlink is planned, at a cost of $1.6m.
- The Bike Hub provides secure end of trip facilities for cyclists to encourage bicycle use rather than vehicles in commuting to the campus. The Hub offers secure bicycle storage, lockers and shower / bathroom facilities.
- The University is providing financial support and donating land to improve the cycle and walkways linked to the campus:
- Claymore Road cycle way: $288,600, 13,400m² of land contributed to cycle / pathways
- Sippy Downs Drive cycle way: $336,000, 1,680m² of land contributed to cycle / pathways
- Alumni way: $150,000, trans-campus bicycle connection of Kawana / Mooloolaba cycle way to Sippy Downs
- The Semester 2, 2011 introduction of the Noosa Shuttle at a cost of $80,000 provides students with faster and more direct transport to the campus, encouraging the use of public transport.
- Two inner car parks have been designated T2 and T3 car parks to encourage car pooling.
- The introduction a second entrance to the campus has reduced traffic congestion, and the resultant greenhouse gas emissions, at the main entrance.
- The University encourages the purchase of vehicles with a high green star rating, a rating based on the sum of the air pollution and greenhouse ratings.
Power and water usage initiatives
Power and water usage in all building on campus is centrally monitored by Facilities Management staff. SMART meters have been installed in all buildings on campus, with data collected from the meters fed back to a desktop application that allows real-time data analysis of power and water usage in each building.
The reports generated from the collated data are a key tool in identifying variations and trends in power and water consumption which can then be used to identify future conservation opportunities.
Additionally, air-conditioning in the Building K lecture theatres have been brought onto the air-conditioning building management system, allowing for better control, energy saving and quicker response time for breakdowns as a result of the system’s early warning capabilities.
The air-conditioning in the larger lecture theatres is being converted to a movement detection system rather than the current time schedule that operates continuously during teaching hours.
This will result in significant power saving and removes the requirement for scheduling air-conditioning for after hours events.
Power usage initiatives
- Use of T5 low energy fluoro tubes across campus, that draw ~30 watts compared to 100-plus in conventional fluoro tubes.
- On campus wayfinding lighting has been replaced with LED street lights which are significantly more energy efficient.
- The University has replaced all exit and evacuation lights with a system that provides 24/7 monitoring and eliminates the need for contracts to test and maintain the system.
- Hot water taps have been removed from toilet facilities.
- Water zips are being migrated to a centrally controlled system.
- Air conditioning needs to be started started manually or starts by way of movement sensors (in some buildings this also applies to lighting).
- High level openings in the Sport Stadium admit additional daylight and allow exhaust of hot air, while split circuits allow for varied lighting levels (centrally controlled).
- Hot water at the University’s Dilli Village research centre on Fraser Island is provided entirely by solar systems.
Water usage initiatives
- The University pool utilises an efficient electronic chlorinator.
- A water treatment plant removes solids and modifies the lake water to produce potable standard water for use as make-up water to the pool and in the cooling towers. The plant reduces the University’s potable water usage by as much as 20kL daily.
- Conventional refrigeration air conditioning systems have been replaced with energy-efficient chilled water systems.
- Use of chilled water air conditioning to replace conventional refrigeration reduces air conditioning energy level.
- Spiral filters are being implemented in the chilled water cooling systems. The filters increase efficiency by around 10% through the removal of excess dirt, air and metals from the water.
- The University aims for, and consistently achieves, potable water usage per student of less than 5kL annually.
- All on campus irrigation makes use of harvested stormwater.
- The University has implemented audit and flow test of all taps and fittings and the installation of water saving devices and efficient isolation points for ongoing plumbing works on campus.
- Facilities Management conducts regular surveys to locate water leaks on campus.
- Conventional water bubblers have been replaced with models that encourage reuse of water bottles in lieu of buying bottled water.
Operational initiatives
- The University supports World Environment Day by providing the campus as a venue for this major event on the Sunshine Coast calendar.
- Sustainability is an important focus of the cleaning contract, with the inclusion of a solar-powered buggy and the use of micro-fibre cloths rather than cleaning chemicals, for example. Cleaning is carried out during the day to reduce overnight energy use.
- Sustainability is a key component in tendering and design.
- Conversion to electronic invoicing and receipting to minimise paper usage.
- Hand towels have been replaced with blow dryers in toilets on campus.
- The revised Master Plan encompasses an environmental plan.
- Continued improvement of building management system operation.
- The University’s Recycling and Waste Officer monitors all waste and checks the contamination levels in recycling bins, and takes part in education programs.
Environmental preservation initiatives
- An environmentally friendly worm castings fertiliser is used in all gardens on campus.
- A 15-hectare site on campus has been revegetated with threatened native vegetation, relocated from a nearby residential development site. The habitat is one of the largest projects of its kind in Australia.
- The campus features nature corridors to the adjoining Mooloolah River National Park, providing a thoroughfare for wildlife including the resident Eastern Grey kangaroo population.
Catering initiatives
- Recyclable cutlery made of 100% corn starch break downs in soil and is good for enrichment. Biodegradable cutlery is used in the Brasserie and other food outlets.
- Biodegradable cling-wrap is being used in Brasserie kitchen trials. The wrap breaks down in sunlight and allows air to circulate around the product. The wrap is certifiable to European compostable standards.
- A trial is to be undertaken to assess the viability of harvesting waste oil from fryers and distilling it into biodiesel to run tractors and mowers.
- Compostable cups are used in all campus outlets selling takeaway drinks.