CARBON NEUTRAL

National Carbon Offset Standard and Carbon Neutral Program

CASE STUDY: Charles Sturt University

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is a multi-campus public University located in Albury-Wodonga,Bathurst, Canberra, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Port Macquarie and WaggaWagga with additionalStudy Centres in metropolitan and regional New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. CSU hasover 16,000 on campus students and 24,000 online students while employing over 2000 staff.The University is involved in teaching, learning and research in regional NSW, nationally, as wellas internationally.

CSU has earned certified Carbon Neutral statusthrough years of planning and investment in people,systems and infrastructure that have reduced theUniversity’s carbon footprint. CSU was certified asthe first Carbon Neutral University in Australia in July2016 against the National Carbon Offset Standard(NCOS). This target was first embedded in theUniversity strategy in 2007.

The business case for carbon neutral certification

Support and commitment to achieving carbon neutral status has been derived from ethos that CSU exists for the public good. The University strives to actively demonstrate this ethos to its staff and students as well as to the communities it serves and has promoted these values, with the adoption of the Wiradjuri phrase, ‘YindyamarraWinhanganha’ (‘the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in’) vowing to maintain a reputation as a leader in economic, social and environmental sustainability for the years to come. By committing to, and achieving, certified carbon neutrality, CSU is actively demonstrating ‘YindyamarraWinhanganha’.

Achieving carbon neutral certification

Carbon footprint

In CSU’s base reporting year of 2014, total emissionswere 43,623 tCO2-e. Major contributors to CSU’scarbon footprint include electricity, gas, constructionactivities, livestock, travel and waste.

Emission reductions

CSU prides itself on being a higher education leader in its commitment to a sustainable future for all. With the five largest campuses spanning a combined land area of 2612 hectares in regional NSW, it has meant that the University has needed to take drastic action to reduce carbon emissions on all sites.

Offsetting

Offset projects selected by CSU aim to improve national and global social outcomes, in line with the University’s ethos and sustainability goals.

Co-benefits being delivered through the local-based projects include restoration of habitats for native fauna, new employment opportunities for regional Australians and diversification of income streams for Australian farmers.

The overseas-based renewable energy projects that are being supported are all located in developing countries. Co-benefits of these projects include new employment opportunities for local communities, increased air quality, and improvements in electricity supply reliability.

Benefits and outcomes of carbon neutral certification

The benefits of being carbon neutral is proven in the utility bills. CSU has secured savings close to $500,000 per annum as a result of the energy efficiency and alternative energy generation projects implemented.

CSU’s investment in climate leadership, has a range of other organisational benefits such as:

  • supporting staff attraction and retention through high engagement levels
  • improved comfort and amenity in shared spaces brought about by a building management system
  • better aesthetics in the presentation of learning, residential and office spaces by efficient technology such as LED’s
  • improved indoor environment quality through the use of Green Star building rating tools to guide the design and construction of new facilities.

With the current carbon neutrality communications plan being implemented, CSU has been able to officially promote and engage internal and external stakeholders though the use of the NCOS logo (the certification trade mark). This not only secures CSU’s status but drives motivation for other businesses and organisations to engage with the carbon neutral program and seek certification against the National Carbon Offset Standard.

Challenges and learnings

CSU offers the following tips to other organisations seeking to undertake the journey of becoming a certified carbon neutral organisation:

  • Measure, monitor and continually review systems to understand where your largest carbon reductions can be made.
  • Think small to think big—small changes in an organisation can have a big impact.
  • The market has many clever people with expertise and technology that can assist you on your carbon reduction journey—make sure you tap into them.

Want to find out more about other organisations who are carbon neutral?