1
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STAKEHOLDER/REFERENCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING 1/2015
Meeting 1/2015 of the Environmental Sustainability Stakeholder/Reference Committee was held at 10.00 am
on 3 March in Room G21, 15 Innovation Walk at the Clayton campus of Monash University
1.
PROCEDURAL MATTERS
1.1
APOLOGIES
Zachary Dorner
1.2
Documents &
Action
Ellen Lenczner
PRESENT
Those present were:
Paul Barton (Chair)
Belinda Allison
Nav Brah
Tony Hudson
Sue Kennewell
Gavin Mudd
Gujji Muthuswamy
Catherine Nadel
Meg Ralph(Secretary)
Damon Rapke
Jemma Southgate
Brett Walters
In attendance: Karen Williams, Rob Brimblecombe, Jessica Van Gent
1.3 WELCOME
Paul Barton (Chair) welcomed all members to the 2015 meetings of the Environmental
Sustainability Stakeholder/Reference Committee. All members introduced themselves.
Members were reminded that the meeting would be recorded to ensure that the minutes were
accurate.
The Chair provided an overview of the scope and purpose of the committee, explaining that
the committee acted as a sounding board for the University’s environmental programs,
providing perspectives internally from students and staff and externally from other universities
and organisations. The committee is an open forum with themes for each meeting to generate
discussion as well as two standing items, the quarterly University environmental performance
indicators and current environmental legislation.
1.4 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
The minutes of meeting 4/2014 of the Environmental Sustainability Stakeholder/Reference
Committee meeting held on Tuesday 28 October were confirmed.
150202_ESSRCMinut
es 4_2014.docx
1/2015
Confirmed minutes to
be posted at the
Environmental
Sustainability web site
2.
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
2.1 LIVING LABORATORY: ENGAGING WITH STUDENTS
The Chair reviewed the environmental sustainability interactions of Facilities and Services staff
with students, including involvement in teaching and projects. He explained that universities
are unique organisations as they can act to improve environmental sustainability performance
through infrastructural improvements, by teaching students and by undertaking research.
Monash links these activities by using the campus as a ‘living laboratory’ integrating it into the
teaching and research programs. The Chair described a number of ways that Monash
connects the campus to the students:
2.1.1 Formal education programs
Currently, environmental sustainability staff from Facilities and Services engage with 4
faculties to engage students with the campus by:
150422_essrcminutes_1_2015.doc
AUTHOR: Business Support, Facilities and Services
Date: 3/02/2015
2
•
Giving formal lectures that are assessable
The Chair provided an example of these lectures where several staff have contributed to a
course in Mechanical Engineering to provide lectures on carbon, energy and sustainable
energy design, together with campus walking tours which showcase examples discussed in
lectures.
•
Providing significant content for a unit
Dr Rob Brimblecombe, Sustainable Asset Development Planner from Planning in Facilities and
Services outlined the lecture content that he offered in the Energy and Environment, unit in the
Faculty of Engineering. Rob explained that students get the opportunity to assess the energy
needs of campus buildings and develop ways to make the buildings energy neutral using
renewable energy and energy efficiency techniques.
•
Supervising student projects
Final year engineering students undertake projects supervised by Dr Brimblecombe to assist in
solving the energy challenges of the University. As an example, in 2014 students developed a
10 year energy efficiency plan to reduce energy demand by 60%, followed by the use of 100%
renewable energy from on-site solar together with a wind power purchase agreement to supply
the remaining energy required. This plan would deliver significant financial savings to the
University.
•
Guest lectures that are not specifically assessed
2.1.2 Co-curricular programs
The Chair discussed the Green Steps program as an example of a co-curricular program,
where approximately 30 students each year undertake an intensive training course in
sustainability and change management with Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI).
Environmental Sustainability staff in Facilities and Services supervise projects undertaken by
the students, involving them in campus environmental sustainability programs. To a question
from Belinda Allison, the Chair replied that the findings and recommendations from these
projects were used to improve current programs wherever practicable.
2.1.3 General engagement in activities and events
To be able to engage with more students and staff than the 2-300 that are involved in the
lecture and co-curricular programs, the Chair explained that Environmental Sustainability staff
use sustainability messages regarding transport, resource use, waste management, food
choices and engagement with the campus, e.g. the community farm. The focus for this
messaging is the first year students where staff members engage one on one with the students
during enrolment and orientation. Students are encouraged to link to the Environmental
Sustainability Facebook page at these times, which provides an avenue for a continuing
conversation during the year. The Environmental Sustainability Facebook page has received
close to 10, 000 likes this year and is the second most liked Facebook page at Monash.
•
Belinda Allison suggested that Environmental Sustainability staff could contribute to
postgraduate induction sessions and the Chair agreed that most communications
concentrated on undergraduate students.
•
Nav Brah enquired whether the University had dedicated staff resources for
engagement. The Chair replied that two staff developed initiatives, ran events and
monitored Facebook conversations; one working with staff and one working with
students.
The Chair then described the events that Environmental Sustainability staff run to engage with
staff and students on a specific subject, such as Ride to Uni day (3-400 participants), the Race
for Sustainability (20-30 participants, with many more following on Facebook), and an
Orientation scavenger hunt to win a bike (800-1200 following on Facebook).
Comments from committee members included:
•
Nav Brah considered that due to lack of resourcing the University of Sydney did not
have as many programs as described by Monash. Their Sustainability Officers support
programs in the faculties of Architecture and Engineering similarly to Monash but could
develop this further into a program like Green Steps. The University also runs events
and has a Sustainability Workplace Group of staff members, which will soon be
opened to student groups focusing on behavioural change. A competition is being
considered for the design of an ‘end-of-trip’ facility. The University of Sydney is also
considering employing a consultant to assist with behavioural change programs.
150422_essrcminutes_1_2015.doc
AUTHOR: Business Support, Facilities and Services
Date: 3/02/2015
3
3.
•
Gavin Mudd thought that, as his students were environmental engineers, they were
already engaged in the topic. He considered social media was an important way to
communicate with students and that Rob's work was important as it engaged students
with the technical aspects of environmental sustainability.
•
Gujji Muthuswamy explained that Environmental Sustainability staff also lecture into
his course ‘Carbon Pricing’, which is primarily for students with banking//finance
backgrounds, and also assist with information for group projects.
•
Catherine Nadel commented as an undergraduate student from less-involved faculties,
where students were often unaware of the work being undertaken by Environmental
Sustainability staff. She thought that social media could be used to provide
opportunities for students to participate in University programs and to provide input on
a broader perspective than currently.
•
Belinda Allison confirmed that Facebook was the preferred social media for students.
•
Gujji Muthuswamy added that the Faculty of Business and Economics had a Star
laboratory that is available to students who want to simulate emissions trading and
auctions.
MONITORING AND REVIEW
3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The Chair reviewed the University's environmental performance indicators for 2014, starting by
describing the format of the report that will be presented at each meeting.
The key performance indicators on the summary page (Page 1) showed:
•
Energy consumption remaining relatively flat since 2010;
•
Annual increases in water consumption;
150115_Env KPIs Q4
2014_Pg1-4.pdf
2/2015
•
Waste to landfill decreasing with increased waste recycled for four years to 2013, with
increased waste to landfill occurring in 2014.
The Chair explained that the detail behind these summaries was provided on subsequent
pages of the environmental performance indicators, together with information on renewable
energy, paper use and transport. The Chair added that the 2014 findings demonstrated that
University measures had been successful in keeping carbon emissions and energy
consumption steady even though the University was growing, but that water consumption and
waste production required new initiatives to continue to improve.
Tony Hudson asked whether changes in emission factors were taken into account when
calculating carbon emissions. The Chair replied that they were and, therefore, it is important to
measure both carbon and energy (electricity and gas) to ascertain the basis of the changes
observed.
3.2 2014 AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Chair provided a summary of the environmental sustainability awards received by the
University in 2014.
•
The Monash Green Program for departments won the 'Skills for Sustainability' Green
Gown award given by Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability.
•
Monash was a finalist in two categories of the Banksia Awards in 2014:
− MSI 's partnership program with the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation brought
together Monash University research with indigenous leaders to study how the deep
knowledge of Victoria's Yorta Yorta people could be used to help strengthen the
community's participation in the decision-making processes governing their
traditional lands in the Barmah-Millewa, and to respond to climate change.
− Monash University's sustainability plan to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and to
progress towards an economically viable transition to 100% renewable energy
through the development of energy neutral buildings and holistic asset replacement
plans that achieve deep energy savings was also recognised.
Belinda Allison and the Chair noted that the University does not have internal awards as the
University has not sponsored an environmental sustainability award.
150422_essrcminutes_1_2015.doc
AUTHOR: Business Support, Facilities and Services
Date: 3/02/2015
4
4.
LEGISLATIVE IMPACTS
The Chair noted a range of legislative changes, which included:
4.1
EMISSIONS REDUCTION FUND
•
Legislation to implement the Emissions Reduction Fund came into effect on 13
December 2014.
•
The Clean Energy Regulator has progressively been releasing methods to participate in
the Emissions Reduction Fund. Methods include commercial building energy efficiency,
alternative waste treatment, landfill gas, coal mine waste gas, land and sea transport
and aviation, avoided clearing of native regrowth.
•
The first auction will take place on 15 – 16 April 2015.
4.2 BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY DISCLOSURE AMENDMENTS
The Federal parliament passed the Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Amendment Bill
2014 on 12 February 2015, part of a package of amendments to streamline the administration
of the Commercial Building Disclosure program.
4.3 REVIEW OF AUSTRALIA’S EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOALS
The Climate Change Authority is reviewing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction
goals as part of a special review requested by Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt.
Comment will be sought on its draft recommendations in April 2015, ahead of its 30 June 2015
deadline.
5.
•
Gujji Muthuswarmy noted that the renewable energy target was also being reviewed.
•
Sue Kennewell enquired whether Monash had looked into participating in the
Emissions Reduction Fund. The Chair replied that technical issues would make it
difficult for the University to participate, as has been found by other members of the
Go8. The requirement to use NABERS energy ratings, which are not designed for
rating educational buildings, together with a low expected return means that
Universities are unable to participate. The Chair suggested that the Group of Eight
(Go8) universities might discuss ways to influence the government to be able to
access finance for building emission reductions.
•
Gujji added that Universities could develop their own methodology to participate.
•
Belinda Allison agreed that a Go8 proposal would be powerful.
•
Sue Kennewell added that the minimum emission reduction target of 2,000 tonnes
CO 2 per annum would be a stretch target for the University of Sydney, and at a
reverse auction price of approximately $20/tonne, the savings would only be $40,000
pa, which is a minor contribution to the business case for initiatives.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Chair asked participants to provide topics to Meg that they would like to showcase and
explore in meetings. Belinda Allison suggested the topics of green leases and canopy cover on
campus.
6.
NEXT MEETING
The remainder of the meetings for 2015 would be held at:
•
10 – 11.30 am on Tuesday, 12 May
•
10 – 11.30 am on Tuesday, 4 August
•
10 – 11.30 am on Tuesday, 20 October
The meetings will be held in Room G21, 15 Innovation Walk at the Clayton campus of Monash
University and video conferenced to a number of participants.
150422_essrcminutes_1_2015.doc
AUTHOR: Business Support, Facilities and Services
Date: 3/02/2015
5
Distribution List:
Paul Barton (Chair)
Belinda Allison
Director, Environmental Sustainability, Facilities and Services, Monash University
Education for Sustainability Program Manager, Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University
Nav Brah
Zachary Dorner
Dr Tony Hudson
Engineering & Sustainability Manager, Campus Infrastructure & Services,The University of Sydney
Postgraduate student representative, Monash University
Environmental Sustainability Manager, CSIRO
Sue Kennewell
Ellen Lenczner
Joanne Ly
Sustainability Officer, Campus Infrastructure & Services, The University of Sydney
Sustainability Advisor, Telstra Corporation
Engineering Support Officer, Facilities and Services, Monash University
Dr Gavin Mudd
Gujji Muthuswamy
Catherine Nadel
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University
Industry Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
Environment and Social Justice Collective representative, Monash Student Association
Meg Ralph (Secretary)
Damon Rapke
Jemma Southgate
Project Manager, Business Support, Facilities and Services, Monash University
Category Manager, Travel and Fleet, Strategic Procurement, Monash University
Environmental Manager, Westpac Banking Corporation
Jessica Van Gent
Brett Walters
Karen Williams
Monash Postgraduate Association, Monash University
Manager, Engineering and Sustainability, Planning, Facilities and Services, Monash University
Building Performance Analyst, Planning, Facilities and Services, Monash University
150422_essrcminutes_1_2015.doc
AUTHOR: Business Support, Facilities and Services
Date: 3/02/2015