CDU is making sustained efforts to have more sustainable campuses. However fluctuations in results should be viewed in the context of the natural environment. Biodiviersity has natural cycles and water and energy use fluctuate greatly depending on the humidity, rainfall and temperature. Climate summaries for each year are found on the Bureau of Meterology site.
Energy
Target: Reduce overall non-renewable energy use at NT campuses by 2020 by at least 5% compared with 2016.
Result: Reduction of 13.8% between 2016 - 2019.
Data includes Casuarina, Palmerston, Alice Springs, Waterfront, Sydney and Katherine Rural College Campuses.
Water
Target: By 2020 reduce overall water consumption by 20% compared to 2015.
Result: Reduction of 19.7% over 2016 - 2019. (The opening figure is from 2016 as 2015's bore water figure is unavailable.)
Water volumes calculated on Casuarina, Palmerston, Alice Springs, Waterfront and Katherine Rural College campuses. An increase was seen on several campuses in 2018, mostly due to large water leaks.
Recycling and Waste Minimisation
Property and Facilities Services has reviewed and improved our procedures for managing and quantifying CDU's waste, and as a result, our 2019 figures do not conform to previous year's metrics. We will be establishing a new baseline in 2020.
Target: Reduce total volume of CDU waste to landfill in 2020 by 20% compared to 2015.
Result: 29% reduction in waste to landfill 2015 - 2018
Recycling and waste minimisation has only been implemented on Casuarina, Palmerston and Waterfront campuses.
University Cleaning
- The University’s contracted cleaning provider uses the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard, is a registered member of the Green Building Council of Australia, and uses processes aligned with Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) to drive sustainable cleaning practices.
- Toilet paper, tissues and paper towel supplied by cleaners at Charles Darwin University are all Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. This includes using a mix of recycled material and pulp sourced from sustainable timber plantations.
- Chemicals used are Green Seal Certified, and are fully biodegradable wherever possible and closest to neutral pH value compatible for the use for which they are intended so as to minimise impact on the environment.
- Chemicals are dispensed using automated systems that ensure the right concentration of each product at all times, avoid waste of both chemicals and water.
- Cleaners receive a Green Cleaning Training Program prior to commencement on site, addressing energy & water conservation, paper reduction, chemical minimisation, waste disposal & recycling, and spills management.
- The University’s cleaning contract requires operational sustainability measures and identification of improvements to practices and methodology. There are regular meetings with the contractor where opportunities identified by either party are discussed to implement ongoing improvements.