Carbon Neutral Regional Campuses
Our four regional campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura and Shepparton are certified carbon neutral by Climate Active.
Achieving carbon neutrality
In 2021, our Mildura and Shepparton campuses became the first Victorian university campuses certified as carbon neutral under the Climate Active program. Our Albury-Wodonga and Bendigo campuses, followed in 2022, marking a major milestone in our Net Zero commitment.
We remain committed to annual recertification, with all regional campuses recertified for 2024.
How we achieved certification
Explore the initiatives completed at each campus that contributed to the certification.
Albury-Wodonga Campus
- Replaced all indoor lighting with LEDs.
- Installed six electric vehicle (EV) chargers for student, staff, community and partner use, plus six for fleet use.
- Transitioned all security vehicles to hybrid or electric.
- Built two solar carports with over 500 panels, generating 205kW of renewable energy – enough to power over 40 households.
- Installed rooftop solar panels in the library, teaching buildings and student accommodation.
- Implemented the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) to monitor consumption patterns and enhance building performance.
As a result, on-site renewables now generate over 40% of the campus’s total electricity consumption.
Bendigo Campus
- Replaced all indoor lighting with LEDs.
- Installed 12 EV chargers for student, staff, community and partner use, plus eight for fleet use.
- Transitioned all security vehicles to hybrid or electric.
- Built two solar carports in Car Parks 1 and 2, featuring nearly 1,500 solar panels that cover around 200 parking spaces and generate 650kW of renewable energy – enough to power 130 households.
- HHS1 became La Trobe’s first fully electric building after replacing gas boilers and hot water services with a sustainable and renewable heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) solution.
- Installed over 3,800 rooftop solar panels across the campus, producing enough power for over 300 households.
- Implemented an Organic Recycling Program that diverts all campus organic waste from landfill, transforming it into nutrient-rich fertiliser for campus grounds.
- Implemented the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) to monitor consumption patterns and enhance building performance.
As a result, on-site renewables now generate over 30% of the campus’s total electricity consumption.
Mildura Campus
- Installed a 100kW solar system – enough to power 20 households.
- Replaced all indoor lighting with LEDs.
- Installed a Tesla Power Wall System to store onsite solar-generated power.
- Transitioned all security vehicles to hybrid or electric.
- Upgraded the chiller system with an energy-efficient alternative.
- Installed high-efficiency chilled water pumps and Variable Speed Drives.
- Optimised the Building Management System for heating, ventilation and cooling.
- Implemented the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) to monitor consumption patterns and enhance building performance.
- Installing four EV charging stations for fleet use.
As a result, at peak operation, 100% of the campus is powered by onsite renewables.
Shepparton Campus
- Our Shepparton Campus leads the tertiary sector as the first to go fully electric.
- Installed an energy-efficient HVAC solution designed for Shepparton's challenging climate.
- Installed four EV chargers, including two for student, staff, community and partner use and two for fleet vehicle use.
- Installed 110 solar panels – enough to power 20 households.
- Replaced all indoor lighting with LEDs.
- Optimised the Building Management System for heating, ventilation and cooling.
- Transitioned all security vehicles to hybrid or electric.
- Implemented the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) to monitor consumption patterns and enhance building performance.
- Student residences participate in Greater Shepparton’s food and garden Organics Recycling Program, helping support local farmers and growers.