Green Precincts Fund - Education Precincts for the Future
Water for the Future – Fact sheet
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, September 2009
PDF file
Recipient: Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
Funding: $1,032,980
ANU Earth Hour display on public playing oval to be irrigated with non-potable water
Photo: ANU
The Australian Government has granted funding to the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra for its Education Precincts for the Future project.
This project will showcase excellence and innovation in facilities management while promoting sustainability leadership in research and teaching.
The Precinct encompasses many buildings and three playing fields on the campus. The project will feature a large solar array and digital sign in Union Court. The digital sign will display information on the Precinct's energy and water use to raise community awareness and promote the project.
Key initiatives of the project include:
- incorporation of water sensitive urban design, water use minimisation and water metering
- building management system upgrade - including the installation of energy meters and cut-off timers
- a 16 megawatt photovoltaic solar panel system
- trial of a solar split air-conditioning system - a technological innovation developed by ANU researchers
- extension of treated effluent infrastructure and stormwater harvesting to irrigate additional public playing ovals
- installation of synthetic turf to replace irrigated playing/ recreational surfaces
- promoting the use of active transport to the ANU, with the aim of increasing long-distance bike commuters each year.
All of these initiatives will contribute to the ANU achieving large long-term reductions in consumption of water and energy during the three year project, including a 44 megalitre reduction in potable water use.
Initiatives in this project range from commercial-scale applications to practical low cost strategies for efficient resource use. Community engagement initiatives will link research to community and corporate education programs that can be applied to businesses and buildings in the city centre and other research institutions.
Consideration has been given to all aspects of sustainability planning including promoting active transport options as a means of commuting to work or study each day.
The Education for the Future precinct will showcase sustainability and be the catalyst for developing a broader best-practice sustainability plan for the region.
The project will use the University campus as a classroom to demonstrate effective climate change solutions, significant water savings, community motivation and mobilisation, and the strategic extension of solutions for the wider community.
The University will coordinate a range of green events including festivals, debates and seminars, and will provide training and capacity building programs and targeted workshops for green representatives as change advocates.
These actions will engage students and staff on campus and in the broader tertiary sector, as well as reaching the corporate and wider community by promoting opportunities for sustainability linkages and partnerships.
The Education Precincts for the Future project is one of a number of high-profile demonstration projects to be undertaken with funding from the Green Precincts Fund.
The Green Precincts Fund is an Australian Government initiative to prepare Australia for a future with less water and to encourage local communities to better manage their water and energy use for current and future generations.
Annual savings
Water: 44ML Energy: 1,718,369 kWh CO2 emissions: 1,529 tonnes
ML = kilolitres kWh = kilowatt hours
More Information
For further information on the Green Precincts Fund you can email greenprecincts@environment.gov.au or call 1800 218 478.
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