While QUT is encouraging staff and students to switch off for Earth Hour this Saturday, every hour is Earth Hour at QUT with energy reduction measures saving the university almost $1million a year for the past five years.
Queensland University of Technology's bend of the Brisbane River at Gardens Point will fall into near darkness and the QUT Kelvin Grove campus will do the same as all non-essential lighting, computers and appliances will be switched off to support Earth Hour on Saturday from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.
QUT facilities management operations director Brian Fenn said the university recognized the importance of Earth Hour as a global awareness-raising effort to reduce consumption and focus attention on climate change.
"We aspire to Earth Hour every hour at QUT so I'm expecting our energy savings on the night to be quite modest, as we implement a wide range of energy reduction measures as part of our normal business," Mr Fenn said.
"QUT has been implementing energy efficiency projects related to lighting, air-conditioning, construction, building refurbishments, computer use and rainwater management since 2006.
"We have re-invested the almost $1million a year in savings each year into further energy projects. Furthermore, our inter-campus shuttle bus service, bicycle facilities and recycling also contribute to lowering carbon emissions."
As a member of the Australian Technologies Network (ATN) universities, QUT has committed to reduce, by 2021, the amount of energy it uses per square metre of space by around 25 per cent. All ATN universities are also committed to integrating sustainability across teaching, learning and research; infrastructure and operations; and student and staff activities.
"The key is to consume less, waste less and recycle more, which requires shifting the way we think and act. It sound hard but it's just a matter of changing our habits," Mr Fenn said.
Year round energy saving tips:
- Turn off lights when you are the last to leave the lecture theatre, or step out of your office
- Turn off all power switches - devices use electricity even when plugged in and turned off
- Print double-sided on recycled paper
- Recycle - plastic bottles take 500 years to break down
For more information about how you can reduce your carbon footprint every day go to: http://www.qut.edu.au/about/university/sustainability/.
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1841.
