AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTSustainable Campus Group National Reporting Project 2010

APRIL 2011 (Updated & amended)

Table of Contents

Introduction 03

Sustainable Campus Group history and purpose 03

About the Tertiary and Vocational Education Sector 04

About this Report 05

Key Findings 05

Institutional Commitment 06

Energy and Emissions 07

Transport 10

Water 10

Waste and Recycling 13

Buildings 16

Green Purchasing 16

Information Technology 17

Education for Sustainability 17

Conclusion 17

AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

PAGE 3AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

2. Sustainable Campus Group: history and purpose1. Introduction

In March 2010, the Sustainable Campus Group (SCG) and Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI) launched the first nation-wide assessment of sustainability in the higher/ tertiary education sector in Australia.

This inaugural national sustainability assessment and reporting project has grown from a state level program that SCG has conducted in Victoria since 2006. This report summarises the methodology and findings of the assessment.

Findings are divided into the categories of institutional commitment, energy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, transport, water, waste and recycling, green procurement, information technology and education for sustainability.

A more detailed report is available on request.

The (SCG) was established in 2006 as a university-government-private partnership between Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Sustainability Victoria and Maunsell Consulting (now AECOM).

Prior to this, data on performance in the areas of energy use, GHG emissions, water consumption, and waste and recycling were largely not collected at an institutional level nor collated for sectoral analysis (Universities and TAFEs).

Neither did a professional network exist for the growing number of environment and sustainability staff (Environment Officers, Sustainability Managers, etc.) in universities and TAFEs. SCG was established as a membership organisation with the purpose of capacity-building for sustainability through professional networking, knowledge transfer, exchange opportunities and sector benchmarking.

Since 2006, SCG has published two sustainability sector reports (Sustainable Campus Group 2006, 2008). These sector reports make the environmental sustainability performance of participating member institutions publicly available and accessible. SCG membership was offered nationally in early 2010.

All universities and TAFEs in Australia were invited to join SCG and to participate in the first nationwide assessment of environmental sustainability performance of the sector.

Australian Catholic UniversityBrisbane North InstituteCharles Darwin UniversityChisholm InstituteDeakin UniversityEdith Cowan UniversityGordon Institute

Goulburn Ovens InstituteHunter InstituteIllawarra InstituteKangan InstituteLa Trobe University Monash University New England Institute

North Coast InstituteNorthern Sydney Institute RMIT UniversitySouth-West Sydney InstituteSunshine Coast InstituteSunraysia InstituteSwinburne University of Technology

Sydney Institute University of Adelaide University of BallaratUniversity of MelbourneVictoria UniversityWestern Sydney Institute

Participating institutions:

PAGE 4 AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

3. The Tertiary and Vocational Education Sector

The tertiary and vocational education sector is an important part of the Australian community and economy. The sector provides training and educational opportunities to students and is a major export due to the large number of international students who choose to study here. The institutions that make up the sector are large landholders and resource users.

The sector represents an opportunity for significant sustainability outcomes through:

• An emerging emphasis on environmental sustainability and environmental performance within sector operations

• Research and innovation

• Education and training

• Influencing culture, behaviour and attitudes across the whole of society.

The national assessment comprised seven universities, 15 TAFEs and five dual sector institutions, with a total of 198 campuses and 554,288 people (staff and students).

This is approximately 30% of total tertiary education institutions in Australia. The institutions that participated and the statistics they provided are listed in Table 1.

Table 1: 2009 SCG Institution Statistics

INSTITUTION

Australian Catholic University

Hunter Institute

Illawarra Institute

New England Institute

North Coast Institute

North Sydney Institute

South Western Sydney Institute

Sydney Institute

Western Sydney Institute

Charles Darwin University

Brisbane North Institute

Sunshine Coast Institute

University of Adelaide

Chisholm Institute

Deakin University

Gordon Institute

Goulburn Ovens Institute

Kangan Institute

La Trobe University

Monash University

RMIT University

Sunraysia Institute

Swinburne University of Technology

University of Ballarat

University of Melbourne

Victoria University

Edith Cowan University

GROSS FLOOR

AREA (m2)

107,136

NOT PROVIDED

144,676

57,352

121,822

188,724

231,679

234,817

151,626

120,300

90,127

29,873

304,695

98,820

230,009

48,328

43,358

83,878

286,739

688,123

430,815

24,432

195,507

NOT PROVIDED

746,809

311,279

193,599

TOTAL STAFF

(FTE)

1,383

1,772

1,099

400

1,072

960

1,637

3,992

735

1,744

906

548

2,261

1,075

2,483

577

450

977

2,685

7,552

3,744

222

2,599

1,172

7,371

2,211

1,534

TOTAL STUDENTS

(EFTSL)

11,961

15,885

10,791

7,373

11,156

27,048

25,935

30,196

17,291

4,837

11,148

4,016

16,859

15,713

18,734

5,857

3,421

7,959

21,874

36,801

52,999

2,476

28,351

15,310

36,001

47,489

13,648

PAGE 5AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

4. This Report

This report summarises institutional commitment to environmental sustainability and the environmental performance of SCG members for 2009. Member institutes have been categorised as universities, TAFEs or dual sectors (universities that also have a TAFE division).

As each institution has differing numbers of students, staff, geographic location and research, training and teaching facilities, data has been standardised for comparative purposes using gross floor area (GFA) (metres squared) or total student and staff numbers (full-time equivalent). TAFE student contact hours have been converted to equivalent full time student load.

Note: Institutions that did not provide data have been excluded from the average calculations and omitted from the charts where applicable.

5. Key Findings

The following overall findings indicate good sector performance:

• 89% of institutions have an environmental policy, strategy or plan

• 70% of institutions have at least one full-time staff member employed in an environmental/sustainability improvement capacity

• More than half of institutions have at least one environmental committee

• 60% of institutions have a target to reduce GHG emissions or to become carbon-neutral

• Two institutions reported to have successfully made agreements with local council to improve transport services

• 47% of all A4 copy paper purchased comprised at least 50% recycled content

• 55% of all institutions had a green IT committee and 74% reported to have successful policies for default computer monitor energy saving and double sided printing

Improvement is particularly needed in:

• Sustainability measurement (data collection)

• Implementation of policy, strategy and plans

• Holistic systems perspective of environmental management and reporting

• Waste measurement

• Water metering and water recycling systems

• Green purchasing committees (only 2 of 27 member institutions reported to have a committee)

• Formal and informal education for sustainability

Key Sectoral Comparisons

• Universities reported the highest average facilities energy use per capita and per gross floor area

• Duals reported the highest average consumption of green energy as a percentage of total energy use

• On average universities reported consuming 2.4 times more water per capita than TAFEs and 3 times more than duals

• Per m2 of Gross Floor Area (GFA) universities reported on average using 24% more water than TAFEs and 35% more than dual sector institutions

• The TAFE sector reported the highest waste to landfill figures (approximately 1.2 times that of universities per capita)

AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTPAGE 6

6. Institutional Commitment

Some very positive signs of institutional commitment were shown, for instance:

• 89% of institutions have an environmental policy, strategy or plan

• 70% of institutions have at least one full-time staff member employed in an environmental/sustainability improvement capacity

• More than half of institutions have at least one environmental committee

• 60% of institutions have a target to reduce GHG emissions or to become carbon-neutral

Figures 1 and 2 show the average figures for each grouping for staff employed in environmental improvement roles and the average number of committees held. The sector reported having many policies, strategies and plans in various environmental areas though the implementation of these were generally shown to be lacking at this stage.

This was evidenced by poor data quality, lack of contractual obligation to achieve environmental targets, low staffing and low performance in areas such as green energy, recycling and purchasing.

Figure 1: Total staff employed in sustainability improvement roles

Figure 2: Total number of environmental committees

SECTOR AVG

DUAL SECTOR AVG

TAFE AVG

UNIVERSITIES AVG

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

SECTOR AVG

DUAL SECTOR AVG

TAFE AVG

UNIVERSITIES AVG

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

2.6

5.3

1.0

3.8

2.6

0.6

1.6

5.7

PAGE 7AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

7. Energy and Emissions

The sector reported consuming a total of 3,744,796 GJ of energy in 2009. Combining all GHG emission sources across all three groupings, it was calculated that the sector emitted a total 891,188 tonnes of GHG.

Emissions were dominated by energy use (88%) and energy use was dominated by electricity use (60%). Universities reported the highest average facilities energy use and emissions per capita and per gross floor area. TAFEs reported the highest average consumption of green energy consumption as a percentage of total energy use.

Figures 3 and 4 show the average facilities energy use per capita and per m2 gross floor area for the sub sectors. Figure 5 shows the total emissions sources for the sector while 6 and 7 show individual emissions.

Energy includes all electricity, gas and diesel oil consumed for facilities and excludes transport energy in the following three figures.

Figure 3: Institution facilities energy use per capita

Figure 4: Institution facilities energy use per m2 GFA

Figure 5: Total sector emissions sources

GJ

OF

EN

ER

GY

US

E P

ER

CA

PIT

A

UNIVERSITIES AVG

TAFE AVG

DUAL SECTOR AVG

SECTOR AVG

12.1

GJ

PE

R M

G

FA

2

UNIVERSITIES AVG

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60

0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10

0.00

TAFE AVG

DUAL SECTOR AVG

SECTOR AVG

0.840.73

0.43

0.86

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0

6.85.6

3.2

GJ

OF

EN

ER

GY

US

E P

ER

CA

PIT

A

UNIVERSITIES AVG

TAFE AVG

DUAL SECTOR AVG

SECTOR AVG

12.1

GJ

PE

R M

G

FA

2

UNIVERSITIES AVG

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60

0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10

0.00

TAFE AVG

DUAL SECTOR AVG

SECTOR AVG

0.840.73

0.43

0.86

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0

6.85.6

3.2

FACILITIES

AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORT

AIR TRAVEL

WASTE AND RECYCLABLESTO LANDFILL

87.8%

1.5%

0.6%

10.2%

AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTPAGE 8

Figure 6: GHG emissions from facilities per capita

TO

NN

ES

OF

GH

G P

ER

CA

PIT

A

AUST. CAT

HOLIC U

NI

HUNTER IN

ST

ILLAWARRA IN

ST

NEW ENGLAND IN

ST

NORTH C

OAST INST

NORTHERN SYDNEY IN

ST

SOUTH-W

EST. SYDNEY IN

ST

SYDNEY INST

WESTERN SYDNEY IN

ST

CHARLES D

ARWIN U

NI

BRISBANE NORTH

INST

SUNSHINE C

OAST INST

UNI. OF A

DELEAID

E

CHISHOLM IN

ST

DEAKIN U

NI

GORDON INST

GOULBURN O

VENS INST

KANGAN INST

LA TR

OBE UNI

MONASH UNI

RMIT

UNI

SUNRAYSIA IN

ST

SWINBURNE U

NI. OF T

ECH

UNI. OF B

ALLARAT

UNI. OF M

ELBOURNE

VICTO

RIA UNI

EDITH C

OWAN UNI

UNIVERSITIES AVG

TAFE

AVG

DUAL SECTO

R AVG

SECTOR AVG

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

1.06

0.77 0.81

0.46

0.66 0.64

0.83

0.710.65

2.512.58

2.772.67

1.46

1.11 1.15

1.41

0.93

0.70

2.53

0.75

1.20

2.37

1.41

2.30

1.46

0.99

0.87

0.74

0.97

0.65

QLD

SA

VIC

WA

SECTOR

AUS WIDE

NSW

NT

PAGE 9AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

Figure 7: GHG emissions per m2 GFA

TO

NN

ES

OF

GH

G E

MIS

SIO

NS

PE

R M

GFA

2

AUST. CAT

HOLIC U

NI

ILLAWARRA IN

ST

NEW ENGLAND IN

ST

NORTH C

OAST INST

NORTHERN SYDNEY IN

ST

SOUTH-W

EST. SYDNEY IN

ST

SYDNEY INST

WESTERN SYDNEY IN

ST

CHARLES D

ARWIN U

NI

BRISBANE NORTH

INST

SUNSHINE C

OAST INST

UNI. OF A

DELEAID

E

CHISHOLM IN

ST

DEAKIN U

NI

GORDON INST

GOULBURN O

VENS INST

KANGAN INST

LA TR

OBE UNI

MONASH UNI

RMIT

UNI

SUNRAYSIA IN

ST

SWINBURNE U

NI. OF T

ECH

UNI. OF M

ELBOURNE

VICTO

RIA UNI

EDITH C

OWAN UNI

UNIVERSITIES AVG

TAFE

AVG

DUAL SECTO

R AVG

SECTOR AVG

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00

0.13

0.070.06

0.07

0.10 0.10 0.10

0.08

0.14

0.16

0.24

0.18

0.19

0.12

0.18

0.11

0.150.15

0.10

0.18

0.17

0.15

0.21

0.130.13

0.09

0.13

0.15

0.09QLD

SA

VIC

WA

SECTOR

AUS WIDE

NSW

NT

AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTPAGE 10

9. Water8. Transport

No clear trends emerged in regard to sustainable transport between the three groups of institutions. Across the sector a low to medium level of engagement with methods for monitoring and improving sustainable transport options to campus was reported. This is evidenced by the figures on travel mode surveys, travel mode targets, committees, awareness campaigns, staff employment and bike support systems offered.

Seven institutions (3 universities, 2 TAFEs and 2 duals) conducted travel mode share surveys, and of those, 3 provided travel mode share targets (2 universities and one dual). Eight out of 27 institutions reported to have a sustainable transport committee (3 universities, 4 TAFEs, one dual) and 10 of 27 (5 universities, 3 TAFEs and 2 duals) ran an alternative transport awareness campaign in 2009.

The average total number of staff employed in sustainable transport was 0.8 EFT for universities, 0.2 for TAFEs, 0.3 for dual institutions and 0.4 for the sector in total. Seven member institutions (3 universities, 2 TAFEs and 2 duals) explored options with local government to expand public transport services. Of those 2 reported that changes had been made successfully while another is still in discussion.

Thirteen institutions (6 universities, 4 TAFEs and 3 duals) offered bike support systems (bike lockers, showers, bike repair services etc). Eight institutions had a strategy to reduce staff air travel though only 2 reported holding a target.

The sector reported consuming 3,114,612 kL of water across all sources, 87% of which came from potable mains supply and only 6% from recycled sources. A lack of water metering for non-mains water sources and a lack of recycled water systems was also reported.

On average, universities reported consuming 2.4 times more water per capita than TAFEs and 3 times more than duals. Per m2 GFA universities reported on average using 24% more than TAFEs and 35% more than dual sector institutions.

Figure 8 shows the total breakdown of water use by the sector while figures 9 and 10 show water use by institution per capita and by GFA.

Figure 8: Total sector water use by source

POTABLE MAINS

LICENSED GROUND(BORE)

LICENSED SURFACE(RIVER/STREAM)

RECYCLED/SAVES

87.0%

0.0%

10.2%6.3%6.6%

PAGE 11AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

Figure 9: Total mains water purchased per capita

kL O

F M

AIN

S W

ATE

R P

UR

CH

AS

ED

PE

R C

AP

ITA

AUST. CAT

HOLIC U

NI

HUNTER IN

ST

ILLAWARRA IN

ST

NEW ENGLAND IN

ST

NORTHERN SYDNEY IN

ST

SOUTH-W

EST. SYDNEY IN

ST

SYDNEY INST

WESTERN SYDNEY IN

ST

BRISBANE NORTH

INST

SUNSHINE C

OAST INST

UNI. OF A

DELEAID

E

CHISHOLM IN

ST

DEAKIN U

NI

GORDON INST

GOULBURN O

VENS INST

KANGAN INST

LA TR

OBE UNI

MONASH UNI

RMIT

UNI

SUNRAYSIA IN

ST

SWINBURNE U

NI. OF T

ECH

UNI. OF M

ELBOURNE

VICTO

RIA UNI

EDITH C

OWAN UNI

UNIVERSITIES AVG

TAFE

AVG

DUAL SECTO

R AVG

SECTOR AVG

20.0

18.0

16.0

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0

2.42

3.30

4.53

2.23

4.12 3.79

2.91

4.59

17.2

9.35

8.28

3.39

9.33

2.49

3.37

8.91

2.14

8.78

3.56

2.80

8.64

5.064.27

9.48

2.06

2.882.31

3.14

1.76

QLD

SA

VIC

WA

SECTOR

AUS WIDE

NSW

NT

AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTPAGE 12

Figure 10: Total mains water purchased per m2 of GFA

kL O

F M

AIN

S W

ATE

R P

ER

M G

FA2

AUST. CAT

HOLIC U

NI

ILLAWARRA IN

ST

NEW ENGLAND IN

ST

NORTHERN SYDNEY IN

ST

SOUTH-W

EST. SYDNEY IN

ST

SYDNEY INST

WESTERN SYDNEY IN

ST

BRISBANE NORTH

INST

SUNSHINE C

OAST INST

UNI. OF A

DELEAID

E

CHISHOLM IN

ST

DEAKIN U

NI

GORDON INST

GOULBURN O

VENS INST

KANGAN INST

LA TR

OBE UNI

MONASH UNI

RMIT

UNI

SUNRAYSIA IN

ST

SWINBURNE U

NI. OF T

ECH

UNI. OF M

ELBOURNE

VICTO

RIA UNI

EDITH C

OWAN UNI

UNIVERSITIES AVG

TAFE

AVG

DUAL SECTO

R AVG

SECTOR AVG

1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

0.300.27

0.30

0.61

0.450.42

0.55

1.08

0.80

0.55

0.45

1.03

0.39

0.70

0.34

0.51 0.50

0.46

0.62

0.55

0.39

0.85

0.270.31

0.39

0.48

0.23

QLD

SA

VIC

WA

SECTOR

AUS WIDE

NSW

NT

PAGE 13AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

Overall the sector reported sending 28,672 tonnes of waste to landfill. Of all waste and recycling produced 16% was reported to be recycled. The TAFE sector reported the highest waste to landfill figures (approximately three times that of universities per capita and per GFA).

These figures appear to align with the lower reported figures by TAFEs on waste audits and contractual agreements with waste service providers.

Only 3 TAFEs held contracts requiring their waste service providers to provide data on waste compared to 6 universities and 2 duals. Only one TAFE reported to have conducted a waste audit in 2009 compared to 7 universities and 1 dual.

Figure 11 shows the total waste to landfill versus recycling. Figures 12 and 13 show the total waste to landfill for individual institutions per capita and per GFA.

Figure 11: Total sector waste and recycling

TOTAL WASTE TO LANDFILL

TOTAL RECYCLED

87.8%

16%

84%

10.2%

10. Waste and Recycling

AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTPAGE 14

Figure 12: Waste to landfill per capita

TO

NN

ES

OF

WA

ST

E T

O L

AN

DF

ILL

PE

R C

AP

ITA

AUST. CAT

HOLIC U

NI

HUNTER IN

ST

ILLAWARRA IN

ST

NORTH C

OAST INST

NORTHERN SYDNEY IN

ST

SOUTH-W

EST. SYDNEY IN

ST

SYDNEY INST

CHARLES D

ARWIN U

NI

SUNSHINE C

OAST INST

UNI. OF A

DELEAID

E

CHISHOLM IN

ST

DEAKIN U

NI

GORDON INST

GOULBURN O

VENS INST

KANGAN INST

LA TR

OBE UNI

MONASH UNI

RMIT

UNI

SUNRAYSIA IN

ST

SWINBURNE U

NI. OF T

ECH

UNI. OF B

ALLARAT

UNI. OF M

ELBOURNE

EDITH C

OWAN UNI

UNIVERSITIES AVG

TAFE

AVG

DUAL SECTO

R AVG

SECTOR AVG

0.04

0.03

0.09

0.13

0.06

0.07

0.11

0.14

0.03

0.07

0.08

0.06

0.04 0.04

0.01

0.02 0.02

0.07

0.04

0.06 0.06

0.04 0.04

0.10

0.06

0.08

0.12

QLD

SA

VIC

WA

SECTOR

AUS WIDE

NSW

NT

0.16

0.14

0.12

0.10

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0.00

PAGE 15AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

Figure 13: Waste to landfill per m2 of gross floor area (GFA)

TO

NN

ES

OF

WA

ST

E T

O L

AN

DF

ILL

PE

R M

2 GFA

AUST. CAT

HOLIC U

NI

ILLAWARRA IN

ST

NORTH C

OAST INST

NORTHERN SYDNEY IN

ST

SOUTH-W

EST. SYDNEY IN

ST

SYDNEY INST

CHARLES D

ARWIN U

NI

SUNSHINE C

OAST INST

CHISHOLM IN

ST

DEAKIN U

NI

GORDON INST

GOULBURN O

VENS INST

KANGAN INST

LA TR

OBE UNI

MONASH UNI

RMIT

UNI

SUNRAYSIA IN

ST

SWINBURNE U

NI. OF T

ECH

UNI. OF M

ELBOURNE

EDITH C

OWAN UNI

UNIVERSITIES AVG

TAFE

AVG

DUAL SECTO

R AVG

SECTOR AVG

0.0050

0.0071

0.0133

0.0100

0.0080

0.0163

0.0078

0.0060

0.0051

0.0085

0.0047

0.0069

0.00100.0014

0.0104

0.0059

0.0038

0.0062

0.0037 0.0034

0.0128

0.0060

0.0134

0.0180

QLD

SA

VIC

WA

SECTOR

AUS WIDE

NSW

NT

0.0200

0.0175

0.0150

0.0125

0.0100

0.0075

0.0050

0.0025

0.0000

AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTPAGE 16

11. Buildings

The qualitative questions answered suggested that the sector was at a minimal level of engagement with building sustainability.

The highest sector performance was for ‘personnel appointed with environmental management responsibilities’ where the sector reported ‘often’ having personnel.

The sector performed lowest on choosing materials based on Ecologically Sustainable Development principles and whether facilities management used performance-based rating systems for existing buildings.

12. Green Purchasing

Only 2 of 27 member institutions reported to have green purchasing committees, an apparent indication that this is an evolving area for the sector. A4 copy paper purchasing has been the focus of some attention with 11 institutions reporting to have targets to increase purchases of 100% recycled content variety.

This is supported by the figure that 47% of all A4 copy paper purchased was of at least 50% recycled content. Figures were much lower and less well reported for toilet paper, paper towel, tea & coffee, and toner cartridge purchasing.

Figures 14 and 15 show the purchasing breakdown for the sector for A4 copy paper and toilet paper.

Figure 14: Total sector A4 copy paper purchasing

Figure 15: Total sector toilet paper purchasing

LESS THAN 50% RECYCLED

100% PLANTATION

50-99% RECYCLED

100% RECYCLED

87.8%

0.6%

10.2%

LESS THAN 50% RECYCLED

100% PLANTATION

50-99% RECYCLED

100% RECYCLED

87.8%

10.2%

37.4% 35.4%

18.0%9.1%

11.1%

51.1%37.8%

PAGE 17AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

15. Conclusion13. Information Technology

Sustainability in IT services was one of the better performance areas for the sector. The performance of operations roughly matched or was even better than policy and strategy levels reported.

Fifteen institutions reported having a green IT committee and 20 of 27 reported to have a policy to set energy-saving modes as default on computer equipment. 18 of 27 institutions also had a policy of setting computers/printers to print double-sided as a default setting.

Levels of videoconferencing use were also very high.

14. Education for Sustainability

In 2009 much of the sector was in its infancy with respect to engaging with education for sustainability. Encouragingly, there were five institutions that lead the way by requiring all students to pass a sustainability-related subject in order to graduate.

The sector performed best in providing sustainability-related opportunities for staff development and immersive activities for students. The area of providing sustainability in student and staff orientation was the most neglected.

The 2010 national reporting project has provided insights into the state of sustainability on Australian university and TAFE campuses. Operational sustainability, in particular with respect to facilities and energy management, continues to lead education for sustainability commitment.

While interpreting the national data is challenging as neither comparisons to previous years nor to other societal sectors are possible, the data does suggest that the Australian tertiary education sector has untapped opportunities, in particular in the important areas of green energy, GHG emissions and reductions, offsets and water management.

Future assessments will provide comparisons to this 2010 benchmarking project and will thus improve tracking of progress in the sector. Whether such future tracking, assessment and reporting leads to a rating or ranking for Australian tertiary education institutions similar to the UK green league table, and/or whether the SCG reporting instrument will be aligned with existing international instruments, are issues of further discussion.

16. Acknowledgements

Thank you to all participating institutions and to all those who worked hard to collect data and provided valuable feedback on draft copies of the report. Thank you also to Almut Beringer, Cameron Cope, Stephen Derrick and Janet Stanley who assisted with this report.

For further information contact:

Monash Sustainability Institute Postal - Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia Building 74, MSC, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton Telephone: +61 3 9905 9323 Facsimile: +61 3 9905 9348

www.monash.edu/research/sustainability-institute