Finalists
Naomi Gash, Outdoor Education student, Bendigo Campus
Capturing the sun
Naomi would like to put solar water heaters on the Bendigo resident housing buildings to save electricity energy current used to heat water.
Sathish Kumar Kaliyamoorthi, Masters of Professional Accounting student, Bundoora Campus
Double sided printing
Sathish is concerned about the amount of paper that students use to print lecture notes and photocopy at La Trobe. Her idea is to default all printers and photocopiers to double sided printing which could reduce the paper usage by half!
Marissa Hewitt, Commerce/ Science student, Bendigo Campus
3 Part Recycle Bins
To reduce recyclables going into landfill Marissa would like to replace all rubbish bins on campus with 3 compartment system. The bins would have one section for paper and cardboard, the second for glass and aluminium/plastic cans and the last compartment for general waste.
Nicholas Hansen, Nature Tourism student, Bendigo Campus
Automatic switch off
Nicholas would like to see all computers in the University to automatically switch off at 11pm to save on wasted electricity.
Andrew Stocker, Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary, Bundoora Campus
A healthier moat for our wetland species
To create a better and healthier wetland habitat on campus Andrew would like La Trobe Bundoora get students from a variety of disciplines (Env. Science, Zoology, Botany) involved in the improvement of the Moat System to further compliment the storm water filtration conducted within the MWS. Non indigenous plants (around northern section) would be replaced with with appropriate indigenous plants and students to investigate, plan and monitor the system as a part of their studies.
Cheri Bruhn, Janine Cameron & Jenny Reynolds, Children's Centre, Bundoora Campus
Educating our children
To enhance the Children's Centre our existing water storage capability by installing a water tank in each garden. Not only would this save water but it would educate our future generations about sustainable living practices.
Jack Singh, Director of Centre for Technology Infusion, Bundoora Campus
Measuring our energy usage
Jack's idea is to use smart energy monitoring system to measure real-time and statistical energy consumption data for all rooms and buildings on campus. This project aims at inducing behavioural change in staff and students to reduce energy consumption. The system aims to bring a long term change and persistent awareness in the University community by using persuasive visual display systems, rule based alerts, scheduled reports etc for energy consumption monitoring. This will result in active energy conservation in the University and lead to a cleaner environment by significantly reducing the University's carbon footprint.
John Dumaresq, Sports manager, Bundoora Campus
Reusing the pool water
John would like to increase the recreational space for students and visitors around the Sports Centre at Bundoora by installing an irrigation system. The water for this would be sourced by reusing the back wash water from the swimming pool in the sports centre.
Judy Ganter, School of Law Communications Officer, Bundoora Campus
Roof top gardens
To improve La Trobe's 'green star' rating Judy would like La Trobe Bundoora to develop a Sustainable roof garden on the La Trobe, Bundoora library roof. This would result in energy savings, improved air quality, temperature regulation, preservation of habitat and biodiversity, reduction of noise and could be used for education/ showcase purposes.
Richard Broome, Associate Professor of History, Bundoora Campus
Richard has a number of ideas for La Trobe to introduce, such as replacing the shower heads in the sports centre with flow restrincting ones to save water.
Marg Pittaway, Brand & Visual Identity Manager, Bundoora Campus
Gift of green
Marg's fantastic idea is to phase out the usual 'landfill' promotional items (pens , frisbees, etc) used at events (ie Open Day), VIP/ corporate gifts, industry sponsored events and replace them with 'gifts of green'. Environmentally friendly gifts could consist of indigenous plant (Grown by La Trobe University's nursery in natural potting mix); bio-degradable pot; cultivation notes; eco brown paper gift bag, eucalypt leaf gift tag and recycled paper La Trobe pens. Not only would these gifts be more environmentally friendly but they would enhance La Trobe's image as a 'Green University'.
Prerna Goel, Masters in Education student, Bundoora Campus
Reducing our paper usage
Prerna's idea is to reduce La Trobe's paper usage by submitting essays and presentations in electronic format, and also by providing all class reading notes in electronic format.
Rod Green, Senior Lecturer in Health Sciences, Bundoora Campus
Double sided exams
Rod would like to see all exam papers printed on double sided paper. He believes students missing questions would not be a problem and this initiative would save 10,000's of sheet of paper.
Ronan McInerney, Cognitive Science / Computer Science student, Bundoora Campus
Re-using plastic bags
Ronan's idea is to have a plastic shopping bag deposit at residential colleges so that they can be reused them as bin liners rather than buying new plastic bin liners.
Sarah Westein, Staff- Research Officer for Department of Biochemistry, Bundoora Campus
Environmental ethics
Sarah would like to see University-funded projects/research/teaching and externally funded research into environmental ethics applications.