AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES
SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
Sustainable Campus Group National Reporting Project 2010
APRIL 2011 (Updated & amended)
Table of Contents
Introduction 03
Sustainable Campus Group history and purpose
03
About the Tertiary and Vocational Education Sector 04
About this Report 05
Key Findings 05
Institutional Commitment 06
Energy and Emissions 07
Transport 10
Water 10
Waste and Recycling 13
Buildings 16
Green Purchasing 16
Information Technology 17
Education for Sustainability 17
Conclusion 17
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
1. Introduction
2. Sustainable Campus Group: history and purpose
In March 2010, the Sustainable Campus Group (SCG)
and Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI) launched the first
nation-wide assessment of sustainability in the higher/
tertiary education sector in Australia.
The (SCG) was established in 2006 as a university-government-private partnership
between Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Department of Sustainability
and Environment (DSE), Sustainability Victoria and Maunsell Consulting (now AECOM).
This inaugural national sustainability assessment and reporting project has grown
from a state level program that SCG has conducted in Victoria since 2006. This report
summarises the methodology and findings of the assessment.
Neither did a professional network exist for the growing number of environment and
sustainability staff (Environment Officers, Sustainability Managers, etc.) in universities and
TAFEs. SCG was established as a membership organisation with the purpose of capacitybuilding for sustainability through professional networking, knowledge transfer, exchange
opportunities and sector benchmarking.
Findings are divided into the categories of institutional commitment, energy, greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions, transport, water, waste and recycling, green procurement,
information technology and education for sustainability.
A more detailed report is available on request.
Prior to this, data on performance in the areas of energy use, GHG emissions, water
consumption, and waste and recycling were largely not collected at an institutional level
nor collated for sectoral analysis (Universities and TAFEs).
Since 2006, SCG has published two sustainability sector reports (Sustainable Campus
Group 2006, 2008). These sector reports make the environmental sustainability performance
of participating member institutions publicly available and accessible. SCG membership
was offered nationally in early 2010.
All universities and TAFEs in Australia were invited to join SCG and to participate in the
first nationwide assessment of environmental sustainability performance of the sector.
Participating institutions:
Australian Catholic University
Brisbane North Institute
Charles Darwin University
Chisholm Institute
Deakin University
Edith Cowan University
Gordon Institute
Goulburn Ovens Institute
Hunter Institute
Illawarra Institute
Kangan Institute
La Trobe University
Monash University
New England Institute
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
North Coast Institute
Northern Sydney Institute
RMIT University
South-West Sydney Institute
Sunshine Coast Institute
Sunraysia Institute
Swinburne University of Technology
Sydney Institute
University of Adelaide
University of Ballarat
University of Melbourne
Victoria University
Western Sydney Institute
PAGE 3
3. The Tertiary and Vocational Education Sector
The tertiary and vocational education sector is an important part of the Australian
community and economy. The sector provides training and educational opportunities
to students and is a major export due to the large number of international students
who choose to study here. The institutions that make up the sector are large landholders
and resource users.
Table 1: 2009 SCG Institution Statistics
INSTITUTION
TOTAL STUDENTS
(EFTSL)
TOTAL STAFF
(FTE)
GROSS FLOOR
AREA (m2)
Australian Catholic University
11,961
1,383
107,136
Hunter Institute
15,885
10,791
1,772
1,099
NOT PROVIDED
144,676
7,373
11,156
27,048
25,935
400
1,072
960
1,637
57,352
121,822
188,724
231,679
30,196
17,291
4,837
11,148
4,016
16,859
15,713
18,734
3,992
735
1,744
906
548
2,261
1,075
2,483
234,817
151,626
120,300
90,127
29,873
304,695
98,820
230,009
5,857
3,421
7,959
21,874
36,801
52,999
2,476
28,351
577
450
977
2,685
7,552
3,744
222
2,599
48,328
43,358
83,878
286,739
688,123
430,815
24,432
195,507
15,310
36,001
47,489
13,648
1,172
7,371
2,211
1,534
NOT PROVIDED
746,809
311,279
193,599
The sector represents an opportunity for significant sustainability outcomes through:
• An emerging emphasis on environmental sustainability and
environmental performance within sector operations
• Research and innovation
• Education and training
• Influencing culture, behaviour and attitudes across the whole of society.
The national assessment comprised seven universities, 15 TAFEs and five dual sector
institutions, with a total of 198 campuses and 554,288 people (staff and students).
This is approximately 30% of total tertiary education institutions in Australia. The institutions
that participated and the statistics they provided are listed in Table 1.
Illawarra Institute
New England Institute
North Coast Institute
North Sydney Institute
South Western Sydney Institute
Sydney Institute
Western Sydney Institute
Charles Darwin University
Brisbane North Institute
Sunshine Coast Institute
University of Adelaide
Chisholm Institute
Deakin University
Gordon Institute
Goulburn Ovens Institute
Kangan Institute
La Trobe University
Monash University
RMIT University
Sunraysia Institute
Swinburne University of Technology
University of Ballarat
University of Melbourne
Victoria University
Edith Cowan University
PAGE 4
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
4. This Report
This report summarises institutional commitment to environmental sustainability
and the environmental performance of SCG members for 2009. Member institutes have
been categorised as universities, TAFEs or dual sectors (universities that also have a
TAFE division).
As each institution has differing numbers of students, staff, geographic location and
research, training and teaching facilities, data has been standardised for comparative
purposes using gross floor area (GFA) (metres squared) or total student and staff numbers
(full-time equivalent). TAFE student contact hours have been converted to
equivalent full time student load.
Note: Institutions that did not provide data have been excluded from the average
calculations and omitted from the charts where applicable.
Improvement is particularly needed in:
• Sustainability measurement (data collection)
• Implementation of policy, strategy and plans
• Holistic systems perspective of environmental management and reporting
• Waste measurement
• Water metering and water recycling systems
•G
reen purchasing committees (only 2 of 27 member institutions reported
to have a committee)
• Formal and informal education for sustainability
Key Sectoral Comparisons
5. Key Findings
The following overall findings indicate good sector performance:
• 89% of institutions have an environmental policy, strategy or plan
• 70% of institutions have at least one full-time staff member employed in an
environmental/sustainability improvement capacity
• More than half of institutions have at least one environmental committee
•U
niversities reported the highest average facilities energy use per capita and per gross
floor area
• Duals reported the highest average consumption of green energy as a percentage of
total energy use
• On average universities reported consuming 2.4 times more water per capita than
TAFEs and 3 times more than duals
• Per m2 of Gross Floor Area (GFA) universities reported on average using 24% more water
than TAFEs and 35% more than dual sector institutions
• The TAFE sector reported the highest waste to landfill figures (approximately
1.2 times that of universities per capita)
• 60% of institutions have a target to reduce GHG emissions or to become carbon-neutral
• Two institutions reported to have successfully made agreements with local council to
improve transport services
• 47% of all A4 copy paper purchased comprised at least 50% recycled content
• 55% of all institutions had a green IT committee and 74% reported to have successful
policies for default computer monitor energy saving and double sided printing
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
PAGE 5
6. Institutional Commitment
Some very positive signs of institutional commitment were shown, for instance:
Figure 1: Total staff employed in sustainability improvement roles
• 89% of institutions have an environmental policy, strategy or plan
• 70% of institutions have at least one full-time staff member employed in an
environmental/sustainability improvement capacity
• More than half of institutions have at least one environmental committee
• 60% of institutions have a target to reduce GHG emissions or to become carbon-neutral
Figures 1 and 2 show the average figures for each grouping for staff employed in
environmental improvement roles and the average number of committees held. The sector
reported having many policies, strategies and plans in various environmental areas though
the implementation of these were generally shown to be lacking at this stage.
SECTOR
AVG
2.6
DUAL SECTOR
AVG
5.3
TAFE
AVG
1.0
UNIVERSITIES
AVG
This was evidenced by poor data quality, lack of contractual obligation to achieve
environmental targets, low staffing and low performance in areas such as green energy,
recycling and purchasing.
3.8
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
Figure 2: Total number of environmental committees
SECTOR
AVG
DUAL SECTOR
AVG
2.6
0.6
TAFE
AVG
1.6
UNIVERSITIES
AVG
5.7
0.0
PAGE 6
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
GJ OF ENERGY USE P
10.0
12.1
8.0
6.0
4.0
5.6
2.0
3.2
0.0
7. Energy and Emissions
UNIVERSITIES
AVG
Emissions were dominated by energy use (88%) and energy use was dominated by
electricity use (60%). Universities reported the highest average facilities energy use and
emissions per capita and per gross floor area. TAFEs reported the highest average
consumption of green energy consumption as a percentage of total energy use.
Figures 3 and 4 show the average facilities energy use per capita and per m2 gross floor
area for the sub sectors. Figure 5 shows the total emissions sources for the sector while
6 and 7 show individual emissions.
Energy includes all electricity, gas and diesel oil consumed for facilities and excludes
transport energy in the following three figures.
TAFE
AVG
DUAL SECTOR
AVG
SECTOR
AVG
Figure 4: Institution facilities energy use per m2 GFA
0.90
0.80
0.70
GJ PER M 2 GFA
The sector reported consuming a total of 3,744,796 GJ of energy in 2009. Combining
all GHG emission sources across all three groupings, it was calculated that the sector
emitted a total 891,188 tonnes of GHG.
6.8
0.86
0.84
0.60
0.73
0.50
0.40
0.43
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
UNIVERSITIES
AVG
GJ OF ENERGY USE PER CAPITA
Figure 3: Institution facilities energy use per capita
DUAL SECTOR
AVG
SECTOR
AVG
Figure 5: Total sector emissions sources
0.6%
14.0
1.5%
12.0
10.0
TAFE
AVG
12.1
FACILITIES
10.2%
AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORT
8.0
6.0
4.0
5.6
2.0
6.8
3.2
0.0
UNIVERSITIES
AVG
TAFE
AVG
AIR TRAVEL
87.8%
WASTE AND RECYCLABLES
TO LANDFILL
DUAL SECTOR
AVG
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
SECTOR
AVG
PAGE 7
TONNES OF GHG PER CAPITA
Figure 6: GHG emissions from facilities per capita
3.0
2.77
2.67
2.58
2.51
2.53
2.5
2.37
2.30
2.0
AUS WIDE
1.46
NSW
1.46
1.41
1.5
1.20
1.11 1.15
1.06
0.99
0.97
1.0
1.41
0.77
0.81
0.66 0.64
QLD
0.93
0.87
0.83
0.71
0.65
0.65
0.74
0.75
0.70
SA
VIC
0.46
0.5
WA
0.0
SECTOR
NI
NI
NI
NI
NI
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PAGE 8
NT
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
TONNES OF GHG EMISSIONS PER M2 GFA
Figure 7: GHG emissions per m2 GFA
0.25
0.24
0.21
0.19
0.20
0.18
0.18
0.18
0.17
0.16
0.15
0.15 0.15
0.15
0.14
0.13
0.13
0.15
0.13 0.13
NSW
0.12
0.11
0.10
0.10 0.10 0.10
0.10
0.09
0.06
NT
0.09
0.08
0.07
AUS WIDE
0.07
QLD
SA
VIC
0.05
WA
0.00
SECTOR
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AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
PAGE 9
8. Transport
9. Water
No clear trends emerged in regard to sustainable transport between the three groups of
institutions. Across the sector a low to medium level of engagement with methods for
monitoring and improving sustainable transport options to campus was reported. This
is evidenced by the figures on travel mode surveys, travel mode targets, committees,
awareness campaigns, staff employment and bike support systems offered.
The sector reported consuming 3,114,612 kL of water across all sources, 87%
of which came from potable mains supply and only 6% from recycled sources.
A lack of water metering for non-mains water sources and a lack of recycled
water systems was also reported.
Seven institutions (3 universities, 2 TAFEs and 2 duals) conducted travel mode share
surveys, and of those, 3 provided travel mode share targets (2 universities and one dual).
Eight out of 27 institutions reported to have a sustainable transport committee (3 universities,
4 TAFEs, one dual) and 10 of 27 (5 universities, 3 TAFEs and 2 duals) ran an alternative
transport awareness campaign in 2009.
The average total number of staff employed in sustainable transport was 0.8 EFT for
universities, 0.2 for TAFEs, 0.3 for dual institutions and 0.4 for the sector in total. Seven
member institutions (3 universities, 2 TAFEs and 2 duals) explored options with local
government to expand public transport services. Of those 2 reported that changes had
been made successfully while another is still in discussion.
Thirteen institutions (6 universities, 4 TAFEs and 3 duals) offered bike support systems
(bike lockers, showers, bike repair services etc). Eight institutions had a strategy to reduce
staff air travel though only 2 reported holding a target.
On average, universities reported consuming 2.4 times more water per capita than
TAFEs and 3 times more than duals. Per m2 GFA universities reported on average using
24% more than TAFEs and 35% more than dual sector institutions.
Figure 8 shows the total breakdown of water use by the sector while figures 9 and 10
show water use by institution per capita and by GFA.
Figure 8: Total sector water use by source
0.0%
6.6%
10.2%
6.3%
POTABLE MAINS
LICENSED GROUND
(BORE)
87.0%
LICENSED SURFACE
(RIVER/STREAM)
RECYCLED/SAVES
PAGE 10
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
kL OF MAINS WATER PURCHASED PER CAPITA
Figure 9: Total mains water purchased per capita
20.0
18.0
17.2
16.0
14.0
AUS WIDE
12.0
9.48
10.0
NSW
9.33
9.35
8.91
8.78
8.28
8.64
NT
8.0
QLD
6.0
4.0
4.53
4.12
3.30
2.42
4.27
3.39
3.14
2.91
2.31
2.49
2.06
1.76
3.56
3.37
2.88
2.23
2.0
0.0
5.06
4.59
3.79
2.80
2.14
SA
VIC
WA
SECTOR
NI
ST
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NI
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AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
PAGE 11
kL OF MAINS WATER PER M GFA
Figure 10: Total mains water purchased per m2 of GFA
1.2
2
1.08
1.03
1.0
0.85
0.80
AUS WIDE
0.8
0.70
0.6
0.55
0.55
0.45
0.4
NSW
0.62
0.61
0.42
0.45
0.39 0.39
0.55
0.50
0.51
0.48
0.46
0.39
0.34
0.30
0.27
0.30
0.27
VIC
0.2
WA
SECTOR
0.0
IC
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PAGE 12
QLD
SA
0.31
0.23
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AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
10. Waste and Recycling
Overall the sector reported sending 28,672 tonnes of waste to landfill. Of all waste
and recycling produced 16% was reported to be recycled. The TAFE sector reported
the highest waste to landfill figures (approximately three times that of universities per
capita and per GFA).
These figures appear to align with the lower reported figures by TAFEs on waste audits
and contractual agreements with waste service providers.
Only 3 TAFEs held contracts requiring their waste service providers to provide data on
waste compared to 6 universities and 2 duals. Only one TAFE reported to have conducted
a waste audit in 2009 compared to 7 universities and 1 dual.
Figure 11 shows the total waste to landfill versus recycling. Figures 12 and 13 show the
total waste to landfill for individual institutions per capita and per GFA.
Figure 11: Total sector waste and recycling
16%
TOTAL WASTE TO LANDFILL
10.2%
TOTAL RECYCLED
87.8%
84%
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
PAGE 13
TONNES OF WASTE TO LANDFILL PER CAPITA
Figure 12: Waste to landfill per capita
0.16
0.14
0.14
0.13
0.12
0.12
0.11
0.10
0.10
AUS WIDE
0.09
0.08
0.08
0.08
0.07
NSW
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
QLD
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04 0.04
0.04
0.03
0.03
SA
VIC
0.02 0.02
0.02
0.00
0.01
WA
SECTOR
NI
NI
NI
NI
NI
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PAGE 14
NT
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
TONNES OF WASTE TO LANDFILL PER M2 GFA
Figure 13: Waste to landfill per m2 of gross floor area (GFA)
0.0200
0.0180
0.0175
0.0163
0.0150
0.0134
0.0133
0.0128
0.0125
AUS WIDE
0.0104
0.0100
0.0100
0.0080
0.0075
NT
0.0078
0.0071
0.0069
0.0060 0.0060
0.0059
0.0037
0.0038
0.0034
0.0025
0.0014
AU
VIC
WA
0.0010
SECTOR
0.0000
H
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SA
0.0047
0.0050
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0.0062
0.0051
0.0050
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0.0085
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NI
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IN
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
PAGE 15
11. Buildings
The qualitative questions answered suggested that the sector was at a minimal
level of engagement with building sustainability.
Figure 14: Total sector A4 copy paper purchasing
The highest sector performance was for ‘personnel appointed with environmental
management responsibilities’ where the sector reported ‘often’ having personnel.
The sector performed lowest on choosing materials based on Ecologically Sustainable
Development principles and whether facilities management used performance-based
rating systems for existing buildings.
0.6%
LESS THAN 50% RECYCLED
10.2%
37.4%
35.4%
100% PLANTATION
50-99% RECYCLED
87.8%
12. Green Purchasing
100% RECYCLED
9.1%
Only 2 of 27 member institutions reported to have green purchasing committees,
an apparent indication that this is an evolving area for the sector. A4 copy paper
purchasing has been the focus of some attention with 11 institutions reporting
to have targets to increase purchases of 100% recycled content variety.
18.0%
Figure 15: Total sector toilet paper purchasing
This is supported by the figure that 47% of all A4 copy paper purchased was of at least
50% recycled content. Figures were much lower and less well reported for toilet paper,
paper towel, tea & coffee, and toner cartridge purchasing.
Figures 14 and 15 show the purchasing breakdown for the sector for A4 copy paper
and toilet paper.
LESS THAN 50% RECYCLED
11.1%
10.2%
100% PLANTATION
51.1%
37.8%
50-99% RECYCLED
87.8%
100% RECYCLED
PAGE 16
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
13. Information Technology
15. Conclusion
Sustainability in IT services was one of the better performance areas for the sector.
The performance of operations roughly matched or was even better than policy and
strategy levels reported.
The 2010 national reporting project has provided insights into the state of sustainability
on Australian university and TAFE campuses. Operational sustainability, in particular
with respect to facilities and energy management, continues to lead education for
sustainability commitment.
Fifteen institutions reported having a green IT committee and 20 of 27 reported to have a
policy to set energy-saving modes as default on computer equipment. 18 of 27 institutions
also had a policy of setting computers/printers to print double-sided as a default setting.
Levels of videoconferencing use were also very high.
14. Education for Sustainability
In 2009 much of the sector was in its infancy with respect to engaging with education
for sustainability. Encouragingly, there were five institutions that lead the way by requiring
all students to pass a sustainability-related subject in order to graduate.
The sector performed best in providing sustainability-related opportunities for staff
development and immersive activities for students. The area of providing sustainability
in student and staff orientation was the most neglected.
AUSTRALIAN CAMPUSES SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT
While interpreting the national data is challenging as neither comparisons to previous years
nor to other societal sectors are possible, the data does suggest that the Australian tertiary
education sector has untapped opportunities, in particular in the important areas of green
energy, GHG emissions and reductions, offsets and water management.
Future assessments will provide comparisons to this 2010 benchmarking project and will
thus improve tracking of progress in the sector. Whether such future tracking, assessment
and reporting leads to a rating or ranking for Australian tertiary education institutions similar
to the UK green league table, and/or whether the SCG reporting instrument will be aligned
with existing international instruments, are issues of further discussion.
16. Acknowledgements
Thank you to all participating institutions and to all those who worked hard to collect
data and provided valuable feedback on draft copies of the report. Thank you also to
Almut Beringer, Cameron Cope, Stephen Derrick and Janet Stanley who assisted with
this report.
PAGE 17
For further information contact:
Monash Sustainability Institute
Postal - Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia
Building 74, MSC, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton
Telephone: +61 3 9905 9323 Facsimile: +61 3 9905 9348
www.monash.edu/research/sustainability-institute