| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.44 |
| Liaison | William Van Ausdal |
| Submission Date | July 9, 2024 |
Flinders University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
1.1 Coordinating committee, officer, or office for sustainability
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s sustainability committees:
The Sustainability Advisory Group (SAG) was formed in 2017 with the primary purpose of assisting the University to develop and deliver a strategy and plan to improve our sustainability performance and contribute to delivery of the University 2025 Agenda.
The purpose of the advisory group is:
1. To advocate and champion sustainability in research, teaching, and operations
2. To assist in delivering on the vision and actions of the Sustainability Plan to 2025
3. To consider new project proposals in context of delivering the Plan.
4. To assist with development of internal/external funding requests.
5. To participate in delivery of projects consistent with role or research speciality
6. To review project outcomes in line with Plan.
Members of SAG include:
• Vice President – Corporate Services (Professional/Non-academic staff)
• 2 x Representatives from Property, Facilities and Development (Professional/Non-academic staff)
• Head of Sustainability (formerly Principal Sustainability Strategist) (Professional/Non-academic staff)
• Representative from each College (Academic Staff)
• Up to 3 x interested general staff members
• FUSA Environment Officer (Student)
• Up to 3 x student representatives (Student)
•Sustainability Officer (Professional/Non-academic staff)
Does the institution have one or more sustainability officers?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s sustainability officers:
Head of Sustainability
Flinders University has appointed the Head of Sustainability within the Property, Facilities and Development division, whose role is to engage with the university community to develop and implement sustainability programs. Key duties include creating strategies, plans and policies, recommending investment priorities, driving industry best practice, managing sustainability data and ensuring legislative compliance. The role also coordinates and leads the Sustainability Advisory Group, fostering both internal and external engagement.
Senior Business Analyst (Sustainability)
The Senior Business Analyst (sustainability) within the Property, Facilities and Development division is tasked with enhancing the university's sustainability ratings, rankings, and reporting frameworks, and to coordinate and facilitate change projects under the Sustainability Strategy.
Sustainability Officer
The Sustainability Officer is a role within the Property, Facilities and Development division, appointed to support the development, maintenance, and improvement of the University’s sustainability program, as well as support the University on strategic and operational sustainability matters. Additionally, this role maintains the collection, collation, and reporting of sustainability data for reporting and submissions.
Does the institution have a sustainability office that includes more than one full-time equivalent employee?:
Description of each sustainability office:
The Flinders University Sustainability Team sits within the Strategic Planning and Sustainability Unit of the Property, Facilities and Development Division under Corporate Services. It inlcudes three full time employees.
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability offices:
Is at least one of the institution’s sustainability committees, officers, or offices charged with coordinating various campus constituencies in the advancement of sustainability across the entire institution?:
Narrative outlining the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
These are some of the accomplishments from the Sustainability Advisory Group and the Head of Sustainability:
Executive level endorsement for the 2030 Sustainability Strategy
During the development of the 2030 Sustainability Strategy, students and staff across all our campuses were engaged in various ways to enable the Sustainability Team to gather comprehensive ideas and feedback which informed the strategy. This included faciliating six themed workshops comprising of research and innovation, finance and procurement, partnerships and engagement, property facilities and management, and teaching and learning. The sustainability survey also recieved 1036 responses. In April 2024, the Senior Executive Team and the Council endorsed the 2030 Sustainability Strategy.
Powering our campuses and facilities with 100% renewable electricity from campus based solar arrays and a local windfarm
Flinders University has achieved net-zero emissions from electricity by powering all its campuses and facilities with 100% renewable energy sourced from on-campus solar arrays and Willogoleche windfarm in South Australia.
https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2021/02/01/our-campuses-run-on-100-renewable-energy/
Winner of the Triple E Awards Sustainable Development Goals Initiative of the Year 2023 for the Vehicle to Grid technology trial
The Flinders University's Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) initiative won the prestigious SDG Initiative of the Year Award at the Triple E Awards in Barcelone in 2023. The initiative demonstrates a sustainable and innovative solution to scale energy storage technology, increase renewables, and reduce GHG emissions. It included installing and maintaining 20x V2G chargers for its growing electric vehicle fleet that are powered by 100% renewable energy generated by ENGIE's Willogoleche Wind Farm and Flinders University’s own solar power systems. The stored energy in EV batteries is discharged into the campus during peak demand periods. This initiative supports SDGs 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 13 – Climate Action, and 17 – Partnerships, by demonstrating the reliability and scalability of bi-directional smart-charging systems for EVs, reducing emissions, optimizing behind-the-meter generation, and creating teaching, research, and innovation opportunities.
https://2023.triple-e-awards.com/index/finalist/id/808
https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2023/08/04/all-systems-go-for-landmark-energy-project
https://www.energymagazine.com.au/landmark-vehicle-to-grid-ev-project-switched-on-in-sa/
https://smartcity.org.au/index.php/article/milestone-reached-flinders-university-launches-revolutionary-energy-project?page=1
Water Recycling with the City of Marion
Bedford Park sport fields recycled water Irrigation from the City of Marion's Oaklands Wetlands:
Flinders University is progressing its sustainability efforts by integrating recycled water systems for irrigating sports fields across its campuses. This initiative is part of Flinders University's Sustainability Strategy, focusing on reducing mains water consumption at the Bedford Park campus and enhancing overall water efficiency. The collaboration with the City of Marion involves a pipeline project delivering recycled water specifically to the university's ovals, contributing significantly to the conservation of potable water resources.
https://www.marion.sa.gov.au/about-council/news/marion-waters-5-6m-pipeline-extension-delivering-a-greener-city
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
Job descriptions
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (1st position):
Text of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (2nd position):
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (2nd position):
Text of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (3rd position):
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (3rd position):
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.