UWS has a clear obligation to plan and implement actions for a more sustainable future, and a clear role of leadership in the future sustainability of Western Sydney. To meet this commitment in a comprehensive organised manner, UWS has an Environmental Management System (EMS) and an Environment and Risk business unit in the Capital Works and Facilities Directorate.

Each of the six UWS campuses has their own unique site and built environment characteristics. New developments and refurbishments and upgrades are to be in character and complement the existing built environment while also in keeping with each campuses master plan.

Natural Environment

It's Not Just Bush 

UWS Hawkesbury has the third largest stand of Cumberland Plain Woodland in Greater Western Sydney and this is of increasing importance. Cumberland Plain Woodland is a unique assemblage of plants – from large trees to small ground orchids, rushes and grasses and its remnants are part of the distinctive landscape character of the Hawkesbury region. Remnants areas can contain trees that form hollows to shelter smaller native animals such as the threatened powerful owl, parrots, possums and tiny insectivorous bats.

Other sites at Cumberland Plain Sites at UWS are Penrith, Bankstown and Campbelltown.

Wetland Weed Reduction 

UWS is committed to the sustainability and preservation of wetlands, and is fortunate enough to have three unique priority conservation wetlands that form part of a critically endangered ecological community on its Hawkesbury campus.

Capital Works and Facilities (CWF) and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority (H-N CMA) have formed a collaborative project aimed at improving the condition of three wetlands over the next three years. These wetlands cover approximately 30 hectares and offer a unique regeneration opportunity due to the large size of the remnants with relatively few disturbances and in most places an unmodified soil profile.

UWS environmental supervisor Dr Lyn Anderson states weeds are a major threat to the native vegetation communities in Western Sydney. This project will help to reduce this threat on these sites, protecting the biodiversity and habitats present.  

Although all zones offer excellent regeneration potential there are significant weed issues within and surrounding the contract areas. For more information on the UWS Wetlands project please contact Dr Lyn Anderson at Capital Works and Facilities.

(Melaleuca wetland - photo taken by  Kim Armstrong)

Landcare/Bushcare Groups

Want to learn more about bush regeneration and weed removal? UWS have two active Landcare/Bushcare groups at Hawkesbury and Kingswood.

Animals on UWS campuses

The UWS 'Animals on campus' policy prohibits dogs and indeed all other animals from all UWS campuses in order to protect the health and safety of all those who attend UWS grounds and to guard the welfare of animals used for research and teaching purposes. Natural fauna are automatically exempt.

The exception to this rule are: 

• assistance animals
• Australian Defence Force dogs
• police dogs
• search and rescue dogs
• security dogs
• working dogs
  

Further information regarding wildlife information and procedures can be found in Part G of the Environmental Management System Operational Control Procedure.

Built Environment 

UWS Cleaners use environmentally preferable cleaning products from AGAR. For more information, please see Green Cleaning (PDF, 49Kb).

Green on the inside...

If you are walking on carpet at UWS you are most likely walking on individual carpet tiles that have a 50% recycled content and reclaim and reuse agreement on it.

UWS has a preference for modular carpet tiles manufactured by Ontera Modular Carpets Pty Ltd or InterfaceFlor. These carpets meet the following criteria:

• Generally, modular tile carpet shall be used in all UWS buildings. 
• Only modular tile carpets with low VOC levels are acceptable. This level shall not exceed 0.5mg/sq metre/hr and any adhesive shall not exceed 10mg/sw metre/hr.
• Carpet which is able to be recycled and whose manufacturer has reduced the life cycle impacts of the carpet in its manufacture and distribution, is desirable.

Broadloom carpet may be permitted in particular limited applications and shall be adhesive fixed to double bonded underlay equivalent to ‘Airstep’ by Bridgestone Australia. For further information, see the Ontera Modular Carpets website (opens in a new window) and Interface website (opens in a new window). 

UWS has the following recommendations for paint and material finishes: 

• Generally only non-toxic paints or ‘premium lines’ with low or zero VOC emissions shall be used. 
• Low VOC emissions equate to non flat paints having a VOC content of less than 150g/l and flat paints less than 50g/L. 
• For doors and door frame finishes, use water borne formaldehyde free polyurethane with total VOC content below 200g/L. 
• Other brands / lines are generally not acceptable to UWS. 
• Paints and / or colours from different manufacturers shall not be combined in a paint system. 

Light colour internal finishes shall be utilised in order to minimise lighting power densities. Ceiling/wall/floor reflectance shall be at least 70% / 50% / 15% respectively.

Living Laboratory 

UWS is using its campuses as a 'Living Laboratory'. Please see the Sustainability Video produced by the University's Communication Arts students in this initiative.

EarthCare Centre

Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre is an exemplar in sustainable living. The building sits at an rather odd angle to the road and other buildings on campus, as it is orientated to face true North. This positioning is important for the passive solar principle. The building includes mud bricks, rammed earth external walls, and a timber frame on a concrete slab to reduce energy consumption. Windows and doors are specially positioned and designed for heating and cooling. The building uses rain water collected in a number of tanks for use in the building and building grounds. Wind turbines help power the centre, along with solar panels systems. Vegetation surrounding the building includes native Cumberland Plain bush, as well as keyhole gardens for small scale crop production.

For more information, please see the Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre website (opens in a new window)

Building Better Returns - Green Office Report

Sustainability has taken on increased importance in the property industry in recent years. The property industry has a major impact on the environment, with buildings contributing up to 23% of carbon dioxide emissions, 40% of energy requirements, 16% of water usage, 30% of solid landfill waste, 40% of raw materials and 71% of electricity consumed.

The introduction of rating schemes in Australia has been significant to the success of the green building program. The National Australian Built Environmental Rating Scheme is used to rate existing buildings on energy, whereas Green Star environmental rating scheme assesses new buildings on broader merits such as:

• Energy
• Water
• Transport
• Materials
• Land use and Ecology
• Emissions
• Innovations

Research undertaken by the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and the University of Maastricht, Netherlands in conjunction with Jones Lang LaSalle and CBRE is the first major Australian study to assess the added value of green office buildings.

This study indicates that green office buildings in Sydney and Canberra have a higher financial performance compared to non-green office buildings, including higher rent and increased building value, yield and occupancy rates. The report highlights the added financial value of green offices in addition to the added environmental benefits of such buildings.

To read the full report visit the Australian Property Institute (opens in a new window) website.

Buildings & Campuses projects at other universities and colleges

• Green building - for example see Appalachian State University (opens in a new window)
• Green retrofits and LEED features - for example see Moraine Valley Community College (opens in a new window) 
• Green building operations monitoring and maintenance - for example see Arizona State University Campus Metabolism  (opens in a new window) 
• Living Laboratory, Green food - for example see Australian National University Sustainability Learning Community (opens in a new window) 

If your section of UWS is addressing any of these areas or additional ones, please let us know by emailing us at sustainability@uws.edu.au