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Sustainability initiatives

• Construction
• Energy
• Recycling
• Water
• Download our “Sustainability at RMIT” posters

RMIT University is undertaking many initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint.

Construction

RMIT is rolling out a program of sustainable building refurbishments and construction. Image © istockphoto.

RMIT is investing $500 million into its capital works program, which will be rolled out over the next five years. The new and refurbished buildings will be distinguished by leading-edge sustainable design.

Sustainable design in building construction and renovation

RMIT University is consolidating its reputation as a world leader in environmentally sustainable building design. Key building and refurbishment projects include:

• Commitment to achieving a 4-Star Green Star rating for all new refurbishments and a 5-Star Green Star rating for all new buildings
• The future Design Hub, to be built on the north-west corner of Swanston and Victoria Streets on the former Carlton United Brewery (CUB) site, has core sustainable design features. They include a translucent “smart skin” façade made up of more than 16,000 sandblasted glass cells, some of which have photovoltaic collectors to harness solar power.
• The Swanston Academic Building, to be built near the corner of Swanston and A’Beckett Streets on the City Campus, will have horizontal atriums to enable natural light to filter into the building and reducing the need for electric lighting. In addition, rainwater will be harvested off the roof for flushing toilets, Greywater will be recycled and solar hot water will be utilised
• The use of RMIT infrastructure as a living laboratory for sustainability, including the installation of a renewable energy training area on the roof of Building 57 (a TIIFT-funded project)
• Production of the Property Services Design Standards Brief, which contains energy conservation guidelines for engineering services and equipment, management of illumination guidelines and energy impact statement guidelines.

Energy

RMIT strives to continuously reduce its energy usage. Image © istockphoto.

RMIT University’s energy consumption is measured in megajoules (MJ) per year per full-time student, also known as Equivalent Full Time Student Unit (EFTSU).

Between 2006 and 2007, RMIT’s energy consumption was reduced from 10.2 megajoules (MJ) to 10.1 MJ. The saving of 0.1 megajoules – 100,000 joules –coincided with a five per cent increase in full-time student enrolments.

Energy saving initiatives

RMIT strives to continuously reduce its energy usage and has embarked upon a number of immediate and long-term initiatives to cut energy consumption. They include:

• The appointment of an Energy Manager to work in Property Services, with the aim of measuring and reducing RMIT’s impact on the environment throughout all campuses.
• The purchase of 15 per cent of GreenPower in January 2008. This will increase to 20 per cent in 2009 and 2010. Read more.
• Completed energy audits of all major campuses in Victoria
• Investment in an integrated Building Automation System (BAS) for the City campus, which uses computer-based monitoring to control the mechanical and lighting systems in RMIT buildings, and enables more efficient use of electricity and gas lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Read more about the service upgrade.
• Conversion of fluorescent lighting to the more energy-efficient T5 lighting and replacement of fluorescent fittings to high-bay lighting in the Bundoora gymnasium.
• The Property Services Facilities Services team has drafted a proposal that recommends the broadening of the set temperatures of the University’s general office and teaching spaces to conserve energy by requiring less heating in winter and less cooling in summer.
• Upgrading the central chilled water plant in the city to maximise energy efficiency
• Improved methods for planning resource reduction activities
• Participation in Earth Hour in March, 2008. RMIT cut power consumption by 5 per cent to around 2,300kwh during Earth Hour, a global initiative that aims to lower energy use and raise awareness about the steps necessary to combat global warming.

Recycling

Recycled computer waste. Image © istockphoto.

RMIT is committed to recycling as many materials as possible and has a number of programs in place.

Recycling initiatives

RMIT’s recycling initiatives include:

• Engagement of Advanced Recycling to remove around 35,000 fluorescent light tubes and to extract and recycle the mercury from the light tubes.
• Recycling programs of paper, cardboard, co-mingled waste, computers, furniture and other refuse are available and can be arranged through the Service Desk.
• The Property Services Facilities Services team has drafted a proposal recommending that the use of plastic bags be reduced by either introducing one common area bin to an office rather than allocating one bin per individual. Alternatively, RMIT will replace plastic bags altogether with bio-degradable rubbish bin liners.

Water

RMIT is currently one of the lowest consumers of water out of any of the major Australian universities who are reporting their water usage in the Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association (TEFMA) benchmarking.

Since 2000, RMIT has reduced water consumption by 25 per cent.

The University’s water usage is measured in kilolitres (kL) per year per full-time student, also known as Equivalent Full Time Student Unit (EFTSU). The average water consumption in Australia universities is 15kL/EFTSU.

In 2006, RMIT’s water consumption was recorded at 6kL/EFTSU and was further reduced to 5.7kL/EFTSU in 2007.

RMIT is aiming to reduce its water consumption to 5.5lL/EFTSU by 2010.

Water saving initiatives

RMIT has reduced its water usage by 25% since 2000. Image © istockphoto.

RMIT has undertaken a number of vital initiatives in its mission to reduce water consumption. They include:

• The production and tabling of a University-wide Water Management Plan. The Water Management Plan provides RMIT with a vision and framework to lead by example in innovation for water conservation, while maintaining a safe and operational working environment. The Plan also provides an extensive range of actions which are aimed at further reducing our water consumption.
• Commenced work on a black water treatment plant to Building 10 (376-392 Swanston Street) on the City Campus, which will treat 5000 litres of sewerage per day using the latest available technology to produce Class A recycled water. The recycled water will initially be used for garden irrigation and display fountain use and ultimately will be extended to toilet flushing in Building 10.
• The re-turfing of key outdoor recreation areas with artificial, recyclable grass. On the City campus, the Alumni Courtyard next to the Old Melbourne Gaol and Ellis Court, which flanks the Bowen Street entrance to the Francis Ormond Building have both been refreshed with synthetic grass. On the Bundoora campus, new sports facilities will be turfed with synthetic grass and an existing soccer field will also be returfed.
• Diversion of fire test water in the College of Business building (Building 108) to existing rain water tanks.
• Collection of “bleed” water from new cooling towers for treatment and use as toilet flush water.
• Installation of rain water tanks at different sites for use as toilet flush water.
• Connection of storm water drains from buildings on the Bundoora campus to the campus lake.
• Participated in various training schemes relating to energy auditing and understanding the ramifications of carbon taxing.
• Use of Class A recycled water in the City campus fountains, with approval from City West Water. After a long period of inactivity, the Building 3 fountain on Bowen Street has been re-activated and the Building 8 fountain on Swanston Street will also be re-activated on completion of building works. Developments in the near future include the connection of these fountains to developed grey water systems, which will eliminate the need to import water via City West Water.

Download our “Sustainability at RMIT” posters

The “Sustainability at RMIT” series includes a poster that showcases the major sustainable design projects on the City Campus.

The Property Services’ Environment team has produced the “Sustainability at RMIT” series of posters, which showcase some of the major construction, refurbishment and infrastructure projects that have been developed to high sustainable standards on both the City and Bundoora West campuses.