Our journey, Net Zero, Our vision, La Trobe University

La Trobe was the first Australian university and fifth organisation in the country to be recognised by the current six-star rating standard, which means we have achieved ‘world leadership’ status under the Green Star Communities accreditation.¹ We were recertified as a 6 Star Green Star Community in 2023.
We started harvesting rainwater at our Wildlife Sanctuary, allowing toilets to use rainwater instead of mains water.
Installed 2,850 solar panels across our regional campuses, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,000 tonnes.
We installed our first solar carport at Albury-Wodonga which generates 141,000 kilowatt hours of renewable electricity.

We committed to achieving net zero by 2029 and launched a range of projects, including LED lighting upgrades, rooftop solar and organic waste composting.
We unveiled the name of our biodiverse waterway, Nangak Tamboree.
We were shortlisted as a finalist for Green University of the Year at the 2020 Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards.
Established the La Trobe Climate Network, bringing together academics across the University whose research and teaching engages with the challenges faced by climate change and climate resilience.

Named first runner-up for the Green University of the Year category at the 2020 Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards.
Completed Stage 1 of the LED Lighting Upgrade, installing 24,000 energy-efficient LED lights across 100 buildings.
In July we energised 7,500 rooftop solar panels at our Melbourne Campus in Bundoora, reducing carbon emissions by 4,000 tonnes each year.
We launched the $500,000 Net Zero fund supporting research initiatives in advancing energy efficiency, sustainability and lighting solutions.
Commenced construction of solar carports at Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga campuses, reducing carbon emissions across regional campuses by more than 20%, a significant step towards the 2022 net zero target.
Transitioned security vehicles at Melbourne and Bendigo Campuses to electric.
Built a 5-Star Green Star Student Accommodation building at our Bundoora campus, using Cross-Laminated Timber – a new sustainable construction technology.

We energised our new solar carports in Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga, which will help to reduce carbon emissions across all regional campuses by more than 20%.
La Trobe won TEFMA's Clever Campus Innovation Award for designing, developing, and deploying LEAP (La Trobe Energy AI Platform).
Implemented a range of energy conservation measures in the Biological Sciences 2 building as part of its mechanical upgrade.
The Hill Lab became Australia’s first research laboratory to receive certification from My Green Lab, considered the global standard for laboratory sustainability practices.
Completed the installation of a 130kW rooftop solar system at our Mildura Campus, bringing the total number of solar panels across our regional campuses to over 6,000, with more than 1.8MW capacity. Renewable energy generates over 25% of the electricity consumed across all our regional campuses.
Commenced electrification works on the HHS1 building at our Bendigo Campus.
Our Sports Stadium was awarded Australia’s first 6 Star Green Star Design and As Built v1.2 certified rating for a sports building by the Green Building Council Australia, recognising ‘world leadership’ in sustainable building practices.
Installed over 420 new LED lights or light poles at our Bundoora campus as part of the Public Lighting Project.

Completed Stage 2 of our LED Lighting Upgrade.
La Trobe signed up to the Race to Zero, a global initiative for a Zero Carbon World. Powered by the UN Environment Programme, EAUC, and Second Nature, this initiative drives leadership and action in the education sector.
Our regional campuses were certified carbon neutral, with Mildura and Shepparton campuses being the first to reach this milestone, followed by Albury-Wodonga and Bendigo campuses.

We announced the commencement of Victoria's largest urban solar farm.
We successfully launched our first Green Bond offering.
We committed to reinvesting savings earned by achieving targets in the University's inaugural $195m Sustainability-Linked Loan into the Indigenous Accommodation Scholarship Fund and other Indigenous welfare matters.

We entered into a Power Purchasing Agreement with global energy leader Iberdrola, enabling the University to purchase electricity from renewable sources. By 2028, all electricity purchased will be 100% emissions-free.
La Trobe’s Sustainable Finance Program was the only Australian case study featured in a new sustainable finance guide. Developed by a global alliance of leading green building rating organisations, including the Green Building Council of Australia, the guide aims to facilitate the $35 trillion investment needed by 2030 to achieve global energy transition goals.

Launched Victoria’s largest urban Solar Farm, a key milestone in our Net Zero program, bringing us closer to carbon neutrality by 2029. The Solar Farm includes a 2.9-megawatt solar energy system, paired with a 2.5-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), increases our total solar generation at our Melbourne Campus to an impressive 5.8 megawatts.
Announced we're fast-tracking our transition to 100% emissions-free electricity, moving the target date from 2028 to 1 January 2025. Switching to 100% emissions-free electricity will eliminate our largest source of emissions, accelerating progress towards our Net Zero goal.
In February we opened the redeveloped Shepparton Campus, our first fully electric campus, marking another step in our commitment to electrify our buildings and infrastructure as we work toward carbon neutrality by 2029.

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