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Monash community's green challenge

18 June 2008

Illustration - Monash energy challenge

The Office of Environmental Sustainability is calling on everyone throughout the University to take part in the Off-Peak Energy Challenge to help reduce Monash's energy consumption.

Monash is launching an Off-Peak Energy Challenge next month as part of a campaign to reduce the University's energy consumption.

The campaign will run for a month from 1 July and will target the use of off- peak consumption which currently accounts for between 30 and 40 per cent of energy output.

The Office of Environmental Sustainability has designed the challenge and is calling on everyone throughout the University to take part. Campuses, staff and students can register at the Challenge website -- there will be a prize for the registrant who provides the most innovative energy-saving ideas.

There are some simple steps we can take to make a difference including making sure computers, lights and office equipment, air conditioning/heating (where possible), and where applicable, any laboratory equipment such as ovens and heating elements are switched off when not in use.

Green Program Coordinators Mark Doggett and Cathy Gibson have come up with some "amazing facts" to support the need for greater care of off-peak usage.

They include:

  • A photocopier left on standby during out of office hours can waste enough energy annually to burn a compact fluorescent kitchen light for more than two and a half years.
  • A PC monitor left on all night wastes enough energy to microwave six dinners.
  • A computer left on overnight for a year creates enough carbon dioxide to fill a double-decker bus.

"The campaign will rely on everyone in the University taking part," Mr Doggett said. "The majority of staff and students are in a position to take small actions.

"These include switching off office, lab, lecture and tutorial room lights at the end of the day, or when they are not in use, or switching off computers at the end of the day or when out of the office for extended periods."

Mr Doggett is also encouraging staff to take action by completing the Green Action form if air conditioning fails to switch off within two hours of close of business, automatic lighting is not working correctly and areas appear to have excessive lighting and may be suitable for "de-lamping".

Monash is committed to reducing its energy use by 20 per cent by 2010. The off-peak challenge will be one of a number of campaigns looking at environmental issues. Others will focus on water, biodiversity, transport, information technology and waste.

For more information visit the Green Energy Challenge website.