NFIH commitment to the environment
North Flinders International House is committed to reducing the footprint it leaves on the environment. To this end management have been investigating more sustainable practices that can be implemented at NFIH and ways in which resident awareness of environmental sustainability can be enhanced. Our aim is to build a student residence which leads the way for other residences in terms of environmental responsiblity, sustainability and preparing residents with an awareness of best practices which they can take from NFIH as life skills for the future.
Recent developments
In its laundries, North Flinders International House has recently introduced front-loading washing machines to reduce the amount of water used and increase energy efficiency. These machines also require less detergent.
Management also purchased clothes airers for each resident to encourage the use of natural drying and decrease use of energy hungry clothes dryers. In the Darwin dry season clothes will naturally dry very quickly!
In recognition that clothes dryers are an asset during the Darwin wet season, management replaced the old dryers at NFIH with four new coin operated clothes dryers in 2009, reducing the number of dryers in the House and adding coin operation as a deterrant to use during the dry season.
Front-loading Washing Machines |
Coin-operated Dryers |
Clothes Airers |
NFIH recently introduced recycling to the House. New recycling bins have been installed around the property and an education campaign is being rolled out to encourage best practice in recycling.
In recent years, NFIH has also introduced solar hot water systems in 11 of its 12 residential buildings. There are plans to expand solar energy use at NFIH.
Recycling Bin |
The NFIH grounds are home to some unique Top End wildlife, such as frilled neck lizards and green tree frogs, and are visited by interesting birds like curlews, bush turkeys, plovers and ibis.
NFIH management is working to rid the area of feral cats in order to protect native the birds and animals that share the NFIH environment.
One of NFIH's resident Frilled Neck Lizards |
Future plans
Management of North Flinders International House have set the following goals for the coming 1-5 year period:
- conversion to use of solar power as the main source of energy at NFIH
- conversion to exclusive use of environmentally friendly cleaning products
- operation of a paperless NFIH office
- installation of energy saving lights and power devices
- reduction in packaging and paper waste throughout the residence
- promotion of sustainable food practices by developing vegetable gardens at NFIH
- installation of water storage tanks
- establishment of greywater recycling processes
- reduction of resident use of clothes dryers
- introduction of composting facilities for food scraps
NFIH Environment Committee
A new resident Environment Committee led by Resident Leader Katrina Graham has been active in 2009 raising awareness of environmental issues, promoting better environmental practices and encouraging students to contribute to improving the environment.
On 28 March the Committee held a major activity to promote Earth Hour. About 150 NFIH residents joined with over 1 billion people worldwide in turning off the lights for an hour. The Environment Committee organized a candle lit dinner for residents which was accompanied by acoustic music.
Vote Earth! Residents enjoy Earth Hour @ NFIH |
Acoustic music was a great backdrop to the event |
Great work by the Environment Committee! |
The Environment Committee is also helping to establish the recycling scheme at NFIH and to promote a proper understanding among residents of the recycling process. Their other goals include promotion of composting and maintenance of the NFIH vegetable garden.
The Committee encourages interested residents to participate in volunteer programs which benefit the environment in the broader community and to this end is planning a working bee for residents at Knuckey Reserve where tree planting, mulching and weeding will be a priority.
