News@MQ
Sustainability
Department Sustainability Challenge Winners
The 3 month Department Sustainability Challenge drew to a close on December 21, 2009. With 18 departments still in it to win it by the end, competition was fierce.
Overall, 481 Stars were collected by departments completing a broad range of activities, from installing a plug in timer to save energy on boilers overnight, to joining the Macquarie University Bushcare group. The best performing category overall was Governance, whereby departments reviewed and discussed the Sustainability Strategy, made sustainability an agenda item at a department meeting, and sent out Seasons Greetings e-cards rather than paper cards.
We are very proud of our 2009 competitors, with the Faculty of Arts - Deans Office and Administration department taking out the challenge title. Well done on obtaining 56 Stars!
“As sustainability is a key consideration for our future planning and operations, the challenge enabled us to kick-start our ways of thinking in terms of what actions we can take as individuals, as small groups, and as a larger team in order to make a difference” said Carlene Kirvan, Executive Assistant to the Dean in Faculty of Arts. “The scorecard in the sustainability pack provided guidelines and suggestions that led to measurable achievements, which have been relatively easy to maintain and can be built upon.
Now that the challenge set in 2009 has been finalised, it has not meant a return to old habits, but rather, a foundation of "good habits" has been laid that will permeate future planning and on-going practices in both the work environment and home. In short, it has been a rewarding experience that will hopefully have long-term benefits for us all.”
We hope you enjoy your Red Balloon voucher, case of organic wines, native Australian plant, and your Fair Trade Christmas hamper.
The two runners up prizes for the 2009 challenge went to the Library (on 48 Stars); and
Macquarie International (on 47 Stars). As you can see, there wasn’t much space between them!
The Most Sustainable Faculty title goes to Faculty of Arts, for accumulating 185 Stars throughout its departments.
Well done to everyone who participated and made this an exciting and productive initiative. This is the first time we have run a Department Sustainability Challenge, and we anticipated doing it again in 2010. If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas on how to improve the challenge for next time, please email sustainability@mq.edu.au.