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Monash to reduce energy consumption by 20 per cent

19 October 2005

Monash has committed to a target of a 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption across its six Australian campuses by 2010.

Professor Larkins, Associate Professor Frank Fisher, Environment Victoria executive director Mr Marcus Godinho and Mr Barton.

A 10 per cent reduction will be achieved through infrastructure improvements and a further 10 per cent through a cultural change program involving staff and students.

Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said the program would encourage staff and students to identify energy reduction initiatives and incorporate a comprehensive educational component.

"Monash has committed to establishing a university fund to improve the environmental practices of the university," Professor Larkins said.

"The fund will be used to improve Monash's environmental performance, including the purchase of additional renewable energy, the investment in energy-efficient infrastructure and the investigation of on-site energy generation opportunities."

The manager of the Occupational, Health, Safety and Environment unit, Mr Paul Barton, said Monash was proud to be recognised as a leader in environmental sustainability.

"We believe that universities have a critical role to play in environmental management," Mr Barton said.

Professor Larkins and Mr Barton were two of four guest speakers at Monash's Sustainability Forum at the Clayton campus last week, titled 'Meeting the energy sustainability challenge: the Monash response?'.

The forum was part of a monthly series co-hosted by the Monash Environment Institute, Monash Environmental Alumni, the School of Geography and Environmental Science and associated graduate students.

Forum co-chair and senior lecturer with the School of Geography and Environmental Science Dr Peter Cock said the forum had been very successful.

"We had a great turnout of about 90 people, and everyone seemed very interested in what the speakers had to say," Dr Cock said.

"It was a great collaborative effort between the university and students and an extremely energetic forum to discuss energy initiatives.

"It was clear from the forum that Monash is serious about meeting the challenge of sustainability."