Are you feeling ambitious? Because we are.
La Trobe has this week announced plans to become Victoria’s first zero-emissions University.
Your Uni will spend $75 million on 20 different projects to make sure La Trobe will has net zero emissions by 2029.
Yep, that’s only 10 years away!
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar says the University was committed to making real change for long-term benefit.
“La Trobe recognises the social, environment and economic importance of reducing our carbon footprint,” Professor Dewar says.
“Rather than simply buy carbon credits, we’ve got a clear plan for action and we are making genuine, local changes to become more efficient and make a deliberate switch to renewables.”
That’s not just a reason to feel ambitious – we reckon it’s a source of pride too.
So, where will you see the change at your Campus? The good news is lots of the big projects are already up and running.
Here’s our Campus-by-Campus guide of what to keep an eye out for during our emission mission!
Melbourne
- The installation of more than 7 000 solar panels on 27 buildings across the Melbourne campus, starting next month. That’s the equivalent of more than 17 kilometres of panels laid end to end or more than 400 home solar systems. At the peak of solar efficiency, the panels will supply up to half of the campus’ daytime power usage.
- As part of the plan, a large-scale composter has already been installed at the Melbourne campus. The unit can each day turn the equivalent of 100kg of organic waste into 20kg of nutrient rich, eco-friendly fertiliser for campus gardens and grounds.
- Ultimately 100 percent of campus organic waste will be diverted from landfill, reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
- World class data analytics researchers and their students are designing and implementing the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) – not only monitoring energy consumption in up to 50 smart buildings, but also making lighting, heating and cooling adjustments in real time to reduce energy consumption.
- The University is also in the early stages of investigation with industry and government to assess the viability of solar farms on University land that will not only create clean energy, but also provide an opportunity for research and innovation.
Bendigo
- Already has 1,400 solar panels, which, at peak efficiency, supply more than half of the campus’ daytime energy use. That’s the equivalent of 3kms of panels laid end-to-end, or 95 home solar systems.
- Already harvests around two million litres of rainwater per year, used to flush toilets and for irrigation.
- By the end of 2019 will have 9,000 high efficiency low-cost LED light fittings installed, covering 100 per cent of the campus’ lighting.
- By the end of 2019 will have a large-scale composter, which can each day turn the equivalent of 100kg of organic waste into 20kg of nutrient rich, eco-friendly fertiliser for campus gardens and grounds.
Albury-Wodonga
- Already has 1380 solar panels, which, at peak efficiency, supply almost 90 per cent of the campus’ daytime energy use. That’s the equivalent of 3kms of panels laid end-to-end, or 95 home solar systems.
- Already has an organics pick-up and processing system, which benefits local farms.
- By the end of 2019 will have high efficiency low-cost LED light fittings installed, covering 100 per cent of the campus’ lighting.
Shepparton
- Already has 115 solar panels, which, at peak efficiency, supply 36 per cent of the campus’ daytime energy use. That’s the equivalent of 200 metres of panels laid end-to-end, or eight home solar systems.
- By the end of 2019 will have 900 high efficiency low-cost LED light fittings installed, covering 100 per cent of the campus’ lighting.
- Already has an organics pick-up and processing system, which benefits local farmers.
Mildura
- Already has 340 solar panels, which, at peak efficiency, supply 100 per cent of the campus’ daytime energy use. That’s the equivalent of 600 metres of panels, laid end-to-end, or 24 home solar systems.
- By the end of 2019 will have 700 high efficiency low-cost LED light fittings installed, covering 100 per cent of the campus’ lighting.