Greening your Campus

Sustainability Initiatives at UWS

There are a lot of initiatives underway to implement sustainability across our campuses. UWS aims to incorporate a focus on sustainability in all of its activities - in research, learning and teaching, engagement with its region and in our campus operations. Please see the video clip below for more details.

Living Laboratory

UWS is using its campuses as a 'Living Laboratory' for sustainability. Please see the Sustainability Video produced by the University's Communication Arts students in this initiative below.

 

Green on the inside...

If you are walking on carpet at UWS you are most likely walking on individual carpet tiles that have a 50% recycled content and have a reclaim and reuse agreement.

UWS architectural guidelines specify modular carpet tiles manufactured by Ontera Modular Carpets Pty Ltd or InterfaceFlor. These carpets meet the following criteria:

  • Only modular tile carpets with low VOC levels are acceptable. This level shall not exceed 0.5mg/sq metre/hr and any adhesive shall not exceed 10mg/sw metre/hr.
  • Carpet which is able to be recycled and whose manufacturer has reduced the life cycle impacts of the carpet in its manufacture and distribution, is desirable.

Broadloom carpet may be permitted in particular limited applications and shall be adhesive fixed to double bonded underlay equivalent to ‘Airstep’ by Bridgestone Australia. For further information, see the Ontera Modular Carpets website (opens in a new window) and Interface website (opens in a new window).

UWS has the following recommendations for paint and material finishes:

  • Generally only non-toxic paints or ‘premium lines’ with low or zero VOC emissions shall be used.
  • Low VOC emissions equate to non flat paints having a VOC content of less than 150g/l and flat paints less than 50g/L.
  • For doors and door frame finishes, use water borne formaldehyde free polyurethane with total VOC content below 200g/L.
  • Other brands / lines are generally not acceptable to UWS.
  • Paints and / or colours from different manufacturers shall not be combined in a paint system.

Light colour internal finishes shall be utilised in order to minimise lighting power densities. Ceiling/wall/floor reflectance shall be at least 70% / 50% / 15% respectively.

Green Cleaning

UWS cleaners use environmentally preferable cleaning products from Enzyme Wizard. Enzyme Wizard create their products from four different types of naturally occuring plant-based enzymes. Enzymes are proteins, composed of hundred of amino-acids, which are produced by living organisms. They are responsible for a number of reactions and biological activities in plants, animals, human beings and micro-organisms. With this technology they are able to eliminate the entire stain or odour with one application.

Products do not contain any soap so there is no build up over time, they are pH neutral so they won't damage surfaces', are 100% biodegradable and contain no chemical agents or phosphates which is great for the environment.

Moving Towards Smoke-Free Campuses

UWS is taking steps to provide a healthier environment for staff, students and visitors to our campuses.

The UWS Environmental Tobacco Smoke Policy (opens in a new window) came into effect on 1 January 2013. Smoking is now prohibited on all UWS campuses with the exception of a number of clearly marked designated smoking areas. This decision has been made after consultation with staff and students, and a review of other Australian universities’ smoking policies, and will provide a healthier, clean air environment as well as reduce the environmental impact of smoking litter.

In line with this decision, tobacco products are no longer available via uwsconnect outlets on campus.

Adaptive reuse of Buildings - Stable Square

Building K4, Stable Square, was originally constructed for the Hawkesbury Agricultural College in 1895, before being rebuilt only one year later after being damaged by fire. In 1899, an additional five loose boxes and three stalls were added and a Percheron stud was established in 1945.

Between 1953 and 1955, the horses were replaced with tractors, thereby changing the use of Stable Square, which was then subsequently used to store farm implements and provide space for the College Maintenance Section. 30 years later in 1983, a student bar area was opened in Stable Square. Five years later, the bar area was given a 'face-lift' and amenities were added to the southern side.

A significant refurbishment is now being planned for this historically significant building to provide new, contemporary accommodation for Student Support Services, Student Central, uwsconnect, the bookshop (with a cafe) and upgraded amenities. This project also involves upgrading the landscaping within the Stable Square courtyard and around the building giving the space a new lease of life.

Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre

Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre is an exemplar in sustainable living. The building sits at an rather odd angle to the road and other buildings on campus, as it is orientated to face true North. This positioning is important for the passive solar principle. The building includes mud bricks, rammed earth external walls, and a timber frame on a concrete slab to reduce energy consumption. Windows and doors are specially positioned and designed for heating and cooling. The building uses rain water collected in a number of tanks for use in the building and building grounds. The site is carbon neutral and use photovoltaics (solar) to power the site. Vegetation surrounding the building includes native Cumberland Plain bush, as well as keyhole gardens for small scale crop production.

For more information, please see the Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre website (opens in a new window).

Building Better Returns - Green Office Report

Sustainability has taken on increased importance in the property industry in recent years. The property industry has a major impact on the environment, with buildings contributing up to 23% of carbon dioxide emissions, 40% of energy requirements, 16% of water usage, 30% of solid landfill waste, 40% of raw materials and 71% of electricity consumed.

Research undertaken by the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and the University of Maastricht, Netherlands in conjunction with Jones Lang LaSalle and CBRE is the first major Australian study to assess the added value of green office buildings.

This study indicates that green office buildings in Sydney and Canberra have a higher financial performance compared to non-green office buildings, including higher rent and increased building value, yield and occupancy rates. The report highlights the added financial value of green offices in addition to the added environmental benefits of such buildings.

To read the full report visit the Australian Property Institute website (opens in a new window).

Green Campuses projects at other universities and colleges

Green Campuses SURF projects at other universities and colleges

  • Student conference sponsorship - sponsorship of students to attend a conference/event/symposium as delegates showcasing the universities commitment to sustainable design. Duke University sends four students to a national conference to represent the university's commitment to green building.

If your section of UWS is addressing any of these areas or additional ones, please let us know by emailing us at sustainability@uws.edu.au