Thirty-three green members of the University community participated in an Energy and Carbon Training Course this year.
ANU is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 15 per cent by 2015 and to being carbon neutral by 2030). To help achieve these targets, the University invested funding received from the Australian Government Green Precincts Fund in an Energy and Carbon Training Course delivered by Energetics.
The course was completed by 33 people, including 14 from Facilities and Services; 15 other professional staff from central areas and each college; two students; one academic; and the ACTsmart Energy Assessor from the ACT Government.
Facilities and Services Director Mick Serena handed out Certificates of Completion at an awards ceremony earlier this month. Mick emphasised the team effort needed across campus to achieve energy and carbon targets, as set out in the ANU Environmental Management Plan and Campus Master Plan. Over $1.5 million per year and 13,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions will be saved if the targets are achieved.
The training course integrates with other university initiatives to save energy and carbon. These include Green Funds of up to $4 million a year, and a Sustainability Dashboard to provide real time data on energy and water usage to building managers and users. In recent years, the University has installed five solar photovoltaic arrays and has plans for more. Upgrades to lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are also being made to save energy while keeping work spaces comfortable.