Green Campus Day
During World Green Building Week in September, universities across Australasia will open their *virtual* doors for Green Campus Day – a day of sustainable events and tours for staff, students, business and industry representatives, visitors and the community.
This year Green Campus Day was held on Tuesday 22, September during World Green Building week (21–25 September), it looked a little different than previous years. For the first time ACTS members offered a range of on-site and virtual activities, depending on their campuses COVID safe operating plans.
There were 3 types of events; COVID-safe onsite events, online live streams, or a stream anytime videos.
ONSITE
(AU) UTS: Green roof tour
UTS has five green roofs providing habitat for urban biodiversity and spaces for humans to hang out. This walking tour takes in all five spaces.
(NZ) VUW: Wellington School of Architecture Sustainable Research Showcase
Haere mai! Join us during World Green Building Week 2020 for a showcase of the latest sustainable architectural research from thesis level students at Victoria University of Wellington School of Architecture.
Building and construction must play a key role in tackling era-defining problems, making it a crucial time for our sector. Presentations will encompass the full spectrum of environmentally sustainable design, from building energy performance, alternative materials, co-housing, implementation of the circular economy, and prefabrication.
Due to the ongoing uncertainty with the COVID-19 lockdowns, we have a limited number of spaces available so make sure you get in quick and register.
(NZ) AUT: Biodiversity walk
Claire Ellis – an AUT graduate – will walk you through the South campus where you’ll learn about the range of native trees and plants on campus and how they support biodiversity. This event is free for all AUT staff and students. Numbers are restricted.
(NZ) AUT: Try an electric bike
Have you wanted to feel the power of an electric bike? During lunchtime come and try an electric bike in an area on campus. An instructor will be there to introduce you to electric bikes (helmets also provided).
LIVE STREAM
(AU) UTS: Talking Bees
See the UTS native beehive and hear from Judy Friedlander and Francisco Garcia Bulle discussing the important role played by bees, the B & B highway project, and keeping native stingless bees. Tune into the UTS: Green Facebook live- stream, and join the audience Q&A.
(AU) ANU: Digital workshop
How might the ANU reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings as rapidly as possible?
This digital workshop (via zoom) provides an opportunity to share your ideas for how the Australian National University (ANU) might reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our buildings as rapidly as possible.
Background: In February 2020, ANU called for urgent action to address climate change and committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to below zero, as soon as possible. ANU are now seeking ideas around how we can address climate change.
Consultation is open from 8 Sept – 20 October 2020 and you can participate by registering for this and other workshops and/or contributing your ideas and build on other people’s ideas via our online idea capturing platform. More info here.
VIRTUAL
(AU) UQ: Warwick solar farm
UQ’s massive Warwick Solar Farm will enable UQ to be 100% renewable by 2020 – this year!
This means UQ will be the first university globally to own our own solar farm that will generate as much or more electricity each year than the University needs.
Mr Andrew Wilson, UQ’s resident solar expert, takes us on an online tour!
You can learn more about UQ’s Warwick Solar Farm and the renewable energy programs here and at sustainability.uq.edu.au
(AU) UQ: Solar program
UQ’s solar program has been harvesting the sun for over a decade.
In this online tour, learn about the rooftop solar facilities that cover UQ’s campuses but can only be seen from a birds-eye view.
There are approximately 10,000 solar panels that make up the 2.14MW system installed on more than 30 rooftops at St Lucia campus, making it one of the largest integrated solar installations in the country.
To learn more about UQ’s solar rooftop program, or anything else to do with sustainability, head here and sustainability.uq.edu.au
(AU) UNSW: Jacaranda trees blossom
The purple prelude to summer’s warm weather has arrived. Every year from late October through November the Kensington campus lights up with 17 Jacaranda trees in bloom. Dotted across UNSW from the Michael Birt Lawn down to Southern Drive, these ornamental trees add splashes of beauty to lawns and water features. Take the UNSW Sydney virtual Jacaranda Walk and learn more about these spectacular trees.
(AU) RMIT: Sustainable Spaces
Join us on a virtual tour through RMIT University’s buildings, highlighting a range of sustainability features that have been implemented into the design of the spaces.
(AU) UOM: Sustainability tour
Explore the University of Melbourne’s sustainable initiatives, services, and infrastructure on our virtual Sustainability Tour. You will hear University experts explain how we embed sustainability across our campuses in order to reduce our collective environmental impact.
(AU) La Trobe: Net Zero Project
We have recently completed the installation of 7,500 solar panels at our Melbourne Campus. This solar energy system is capable of generating up to 50% of our campus energy needs, off-setting 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and saving the University almost $615,000 per year.
It’s all part of our commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2029.
Find out more about the Net Zero Project here.
(AU) UTAS: Interactive map
The tour explores how aspects of sustainability have been incorporated within the University of Tasmania. Features on the tour include the University’s sustainable building designs, transport services, waste management, biodiversity on campus, options for health and wellbeing activities and social sustainability as well as student sustainability projects on the campus.
(AU) UON: Sustainability tour
Explore the University of Newcastle’s sustainability initiatives.
(NZ) VUW: Tour video
Join Andrew Wilks, Director of Sustainability as he takes you on a green tour of the Kelburn Campus. Share some of the highlights of our work so far and visit several behind the scene locations.
Media
A4 pdf poster – colour
A4 pdf poster – mono
Green Campus Day is supported by
