Bulletin

Issue: March/April 2008

News

Cuts in water, waste and energy use

La Trobe staff and students showed their commitment to sustainability by joining millions around the world who turned off their lights to mark Earth Hour. Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson sent an email to more than 30,000 staff and students, encouraging them to take part. La Trobe also signed on as an official supporter of the initiative.

Director of Estate Management Tony Inglis said the University had a long history of meaningful sustainability initiatives. It was making changes to infrastructure, practices and curriculum to demonstrate leadership in sustainability.

At the Bundoora campus, La Trobe generates its own electricity and hot water from natural gas using a highly efficient co-generation plant. Some of this electricity is fed back into the power grid for the local community. Despite adding significant cooling capacity to the campus last year, total energy consumption reduced by three per cent.

In the past three years the University has also reduced water consumption by 20 per cent and waste to landfill, through recycling, by 27 per cent. Last year it also achieved Bronze 'Waste Wise' accreditation and made significant efforts in transport infrastructure and carbon offsets.

'La Trobe aims to educate its students not only in their academic disciplines but in general community responsibility, and a large part of this is about investing in the future through environmentally sustainable living,' said Mr Inglis.