Green Campus initiative, formerly known as SA Waterfront, is an initiative within the University of Cape Town, which seeks to make UCT a more ecologically and socially sustainable institution. It was launched by Susan Botha, formerly a project manager for the Namaqualand Restoration Initiative in UCT’s Department of Conservation. Susan has a Master’s degree in Resource Management and currently serves on the steering committee of the campaign. Currently, she is also serving as an advisor for the campaign, which is funded by the South African Humanimentary Research Foundation.
Green Campus was launched as part of the Cape Town University’s strategy to promote sustainability and green living. Susan and her team believe, “SA is at risk of sliding into a state of neglect and decay”. This is reflected in the fact that, for the last twenty years, South Africa has lost a significant amount of its natural capital, with many areas affected by land mines. The major environmental issues faced by the country include climate change, massive wastage of resources, degradation of ecosystems, and air and water pollution. It is for these reasons that the University of Cape Town has developed and initiative to promote sustainability-related projects throughout the campus.
As part of this strategy, Green Campus has developed a set of twelve sustainable buildings which are designed to minimize the negative effects of climate change. These buildings have a combined energy efficiency of 9%, which is the highest standard across all the campuses of the University. Furthermore, the buildings feature a combined sustainable design with a minimal impact on the natural environment. Among the sustainable buildings, one is a green building with a steel structure which aims to conserve heat within the building. The building features a ventilation system which utilises natural cooling sources such as the sun, in order to maximise cooling efficiency.
Another aspect of sustainable design is waste management and this is exemplified in the use of passive solar heating and cooling systems which utilise solar light, and natural daylight to provide efficient warmth and cooling. Further to this, the building features a waste system whereby, all waste is recycled at an increased rate. One major sustainable initiative is that of the’Grindhouse’ which has been developed to ensure that the maximum possible level of recycling occurs. In this building, all commercial waste is automatically sorted, compressed, compacted, and shredded. The site of the Grindhouse is constantly monitored to ensure that it meets its targets.
In addition to waste management, sustainable practices also focus on a number of other aspects which are directed towards reducing and bettering the lot of people living and working on the Green Campus. In this regard, the aim of the project is to create a more environmentally friendly and user-friendly campus. To this end, the University has developed numerous activities and initiatives including the planting of trees, and a campaign which encourages students to recycle any waste they can. Additionally, green practices include the use of water conservation appliances such as the bidet and the heated outdoor swimming pool.
Furthermore, the Green Campus incorporates carbon-reduction strategies so as to try and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the University and its facilities by 20 % by the year 2010. Amongst the measures put in place, the University is encouraging its buildings to use energy-efficient light bulbs, use water-conserving appliances, and make sure that the recycling of all waste and off-campus waste is done to the highest degree possible. In line with this, the university is looking into the option of utilizing geothermal heating and cooling systems to save on fuel costs. The installation of these types of systems may cost slightly more than others, but they will ultimately prove to be more ecologically sound. In addition, they will also help to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the property by ensuring a consistent temperature.
Furthermore, in order to help reduce the environmental sustainability of its campus, the university is looking into the option of a zero waste policy. A zero waste policy means that the fewer waste products are produced from the use of every student, faculty, staff member and other personnel. By making use of such an approach, the University is attempting to not only reduce waste, but also to ensure that none of the waste is sent to the landfill. Zero waste policies such as this are becoming increasingly popular amongst businesses world over, and the University is looking towards international adoption of these initiatives.
In addition to these initiatives, the university is also taking the view that it is important for its employees to feel that they are engaged as they work. The university has launched the Global carbon Neutrality initiative, which encourages employees to recycle by taking an active role in their own cleaning and recycling habits. This initiative, as well as the recycling and reusing of various items, aim to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility at work. Ultimately, the aim of the initiative is for employees to take responsibility for their actions and to contribute to environmental sustainability as much as possible.
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