Ecological Footprint Analysis of the Callaghan Campus

This was first undertaken by Kate Flint, as an honours thesis in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at the University.

It was the first EFA undertaken for a university in Australia, and it was very useful as it confirmed the intuitive direction that staff responsible for the University’s facilities management had been practicing.

Results include:
The footprint estimated an impact on ecological systems greater than 26 times its geographical area
Resource consumption from the use of fossil fuels is by far the most significant impact.

Together, the impacts of transport and energy used in buildings (embodied and operational) constitute some 90% of the overall consumption.

An extensive Waste Audit was undertaken 1998

More than 60% of waste stream consists of paper and cardboard waste.

This was targeted in partnership with our contract cleaners for a much upgraded recycling program. 44 tonnes of quality paper and 6.8 tonnes of cardboard are recycled yearly.

Food waste is recycled via an innovative worm farm on site. 11% of the total waste stream is organic waste, and more than half of this is collected for the worm farm. Product from the farm is the only fertiliser used on the 5 playing fields (13 Ha) on the campus.

Birabahn

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Centre 2002
Prof Richard Lepastrier, Prof Peter Stutchbury and Sue Harper architects in association.
Houses Indigenous studies, teaching and research, as well as the Indigenous Support Unit for the School of Medicine. It is the most advanced in ESD terms on the campus to date.

Consultants awarded after limited design competition. Prof Lepastrier was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal while working on this commission.

Innovative steel structure by Prof Max Irvine and Northrop Engineers rests on central row of columns, minimising material consumed and generating a light, elegant structure. Structure was dynamically modelled to prevent vibration from wind, and includes steel tie rods to prevent ‘flutter’. Structure hot dipped (zinc) galvanised.

Double roof structure 600mm apart allows summer ventilation of internal spaces. Vents are closed in winter allowing thermal mass to be heated by northern sunlight penetration.

A Living Classroom

The introduction of sustainability as a key component in campus building design and facilities management practices was initially promoted to the wider University community in terms of both cost savings and environmental benefit.

As awareness has grown in the community, the exponential benefits of sustainable practices have been more widely recognised, with the University incorporating sustainability in its Strategic Mission Statement as a core value.

The broader University community has embraced the opportunities which have arisen from these initiatives to use the campus as a living classroom, and to demonstrated applied systems thinking across a broad range of academic activities.

Limited Design Competition:
Richard Lepastrier, Peter Stutchbury, Sue Harper - Architects

Quality Based selection:
Northrop and Max Irvine – Structural
Advanced Environmental Concepts – Environmental
Hydrotech – Hydraulic
GHD - Electrical