Environment. The SUstainable Campus projects
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Strategy
The strength of the University’s environmental planning and activities comes from its strategic commitment to excellence in research and innovation and continuous improvement in environmental performance and sustainability.
The Environment Strategies Team works with staff and students across the campuses to continually improve the University's performance and implement the University of Sydney's Environment Policy. Our "SUstainable Campus" projects are listed below.
University community members are welcome to use the right hand menus to explore your options for ‘eco-practice’.
Building Green
The University builds, owns, operates and occupies its own facilities as is well placed to reap the ongoing benefits of good environmental design. Our green building projects aim to incorporate environmentally sustainable principles into the design, construction and operation of campus buildings and facilities.
Greenhouse Planning
A Greenhouse Action Plan is being developed to coordinate opportunities to reduce greenhouse emissions from the University’s car fleet, electricity purchasing, and waste removal. The Greenhouse Working Group is also exploring options to “offset” greenhouse gas emissions through activities such as tree planting.
Saving energy
Each year, the University spends over $5 million on energy. The NSW State Government has mandated that the University audit its energy use, review management practices, and develop a 4 year "Energy Savings Action Plan". Our Energy Saving projects links with with online data about your building’s consumption. You can also find out more about how energy is used and saved on campus.
Sustainable transport
Sustainable Campus is also working to reduce greenhouse emissions arising from University related travel and fleet. The following downloadable PDFS are available for staff, students and visitors who wish to find out how to get to Camperdown/Darlington campus. The following transport guides were developed in response to a Transport survey of students and staff in 2004.
- Consult the Bicycle Map for the smartest cycling routes.
- Here is a list of local bicycle shops.
- The Sydney buses Camperdown Darlington service and Ticket info.
More sustainable transport initiatives.
Saving Water
The Water Management Working Group sees representatives from across campus working to further progress water savings achieved in the last decade. In 2006 a Water Savings Action Plan (700Kb) has been developed and over $300 000 of funds secured to include water sensitive urban design as part of the Campus 2010.
Avoiding waste
In 2004 a waste audit of the Camperdown, Darlington, Rozelle, and Camden Campuses was completed. A Waste Avoidance and Minimisation Working Group formed to develop a plan to reduce waste.
Many initiatives started as a result, including an electronic waste recycling program and a building material recycling program.
Our initiatives.
Conserving biodiversity
The University estate consists of a range of properties that are home to significant communities of flora and fauna. The University promotes biodiversity and protection of these communities.
Environmental risk
The University is a licensed premise, and reports to the Environment Protection Authority on steps taken to reduce environmental risk, using the Comparative Risk Assessment Method.
Student projects
Our programs are built upon staff and students involvement through working groups, providing feedback, events, giveaways and workshops etc: touching the campus life of thousands of University staff and students. A range of students have applied their course work to real world environmental challenges.