ANUgreen plans to empower members of the ANU community to further improve the environmental performance of University operations.

The Social, Environmental Economic Sustainability @ Work (SEES@W) program is an umbrella initiative that will see staff and students in offices, labs and residential colleges across campus drive colleagues to improve the environmental performance of their operations and, in doing so, drive down operational costs.

ANUgreen, the University's environmental management office, has developed the program in response to community pressure for cultural change to reduce the effects of climate change. It also means the University will be better prepared for the impending federal carbon emissions trading scheme, and significant increases in the cost of energy and water.

Participants will not only be given resources to promote sustainability in their workplace, but will be kept up-to-date with community building and sustainability awareness events.

ANUgreen will also facilitate environmental assessments that will show just how well areas are performing environmentally in water, waste, transport, biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention and energy use. The final stage will be a strategy developed and implemented with the aim of delivering measurable improvements.

Clare Lawlor from ANUgreen has identified that workplaces can achieve significant savings by implementing even minor changes. "A typical worker is not in the office for 70 per cent of the hours in a year once nights, weekends and annual leave are taken into account," she said. "A workplace with 200 fluorescent lighting tubes, 100 computers and 100 LCD screens left on at full power outside of regular hours would spend an extra $25,000. The SEES@W program can help workplaces identify these cost saving opportunities, and provides a vehicle to enable cooperation within a workplace to achieve the desired outcome."

Applications for becoming a Green Rep close Monday 31 March, with the first workshop and program launch scheduled for Monday 7 April. For more information, including how to apply, visit www.anu.edu.au/anugreen/?pid=79  or email anugreen@anu.edu.au

Students who are not part of a University workplace can also get involved with environmental initiatives through the Sustainability Learning Community. Visit http://slc.anu.edu.au/ for details.

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