La Trobe University > Sustainability > Net Zero Carbon > Our vision and journey

Our vision and journey

At La Trobe, we have a long and proud history of pursuing sustainable practice.

In 2019, we launched our Net Zero program and made a $75 million commitment to become carbon neutral by 2029 and for our regional campuses to become carbon neutral by 2022, a milestone that was achieved on target.

The goals of our Net Zero program are to:

  • Develop, fund and deliver the University wide program
  • Fast track emission reductions
  • Ensure security, reliability, cost-certainty of supply
  • Deliver projects to exceed environmental, financial and community targets
  • Prepare and plan for our University City of the Future transformation
  • Focus on the benefits for our students, faculty and the wider community

Our Net Zero strategy will see La Trobe University continue to be a leader in sustainability and will deliver a number of benefits and opportunities:

  • Our regional campuses were certified Net Zero in 2022
  • La Trobe University will become carbon neutral by 2029
  • A University developed energy analytics platform (LEAP), to provide learning, teaching and economic benefits and operate as a “Living Lab”

Our journey

  • 2017: Our Building Management System (BMS) Optimisation program saw a 14% Gas reduction in Bendigo and a 21% Electricity reduction in Albury-Wodonga.
  • 2018: We became the first Australian university and fifth organisation in Australia to be recognised by the current six-star rating standard, which means we have achieved ‘world leadership’ status under the Green Star Communities accreditation. We continue to hold this title.
  • 2018: We started harvesting rainwater at our Wildlife Sanctuary to enable the toilets to use rainwater instead of mains water.
  • 2018: 2,850 solar panels were installed at our regional campuses contributing to a 1,000-tonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
  • 2018: We installed our first solar carport at Albury-Wodonga which generates 141,000 kilowatt hours of renewable electricity.

  • We made a commitment to be net zero by 2029 and began to roll out a range of projects from LED lighting upgrades, rooftop solar and organic waste composting.
  • We unveiled the name of our biodiverse waterway - Nangak Tamboree.
  • We were shortlisted as a finalist for Green University of the Year at the 2020 Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards.
  • Established the La Trobe Climate Network, which brings together academics across La Trobe University whose research and teaching engages with the challenges faced by climate change and climate resilience.

  • Our commitment to the environment was recognised when we were named first runner-up for the Green University of the Year category at the 2020 Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards.
  • We completed Stage 1 of our LED Lighting Upgrade, which included installing 24,000 energy efficient LED lights across 100 buildings.
  • We energised 7,500 rooftop solar panels at our Melbourne Campus in Bundoora, helping to reduce our carbon emissions by 4,000 tonnes each year.
  • We launched the $500,000 Net Zero fund which supports research initiatives that advance energy efficiency, sustainability and lighting solutions.
  • Works commenced to construct solar carports at the Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga campuses which reduced carbon emissions across all regional campuses by more than 20% - a significant step towards these campuses reaching the 2022 net zero target.
  • Transitioned security vehicles at our Melbourne and Bendigo Campuses to electric.
  • We built a new 5 Star Green Star Student Accommodation building at our Bundoora campus which utilises Cross-Laminated Timber - a new, sustainable and renewable construction technology.

  • We energised our new solar carports in Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga, which will help to reduce carbon emissions across all regional campuses by more than 20%.
  • La Trobe University won TEFMA's Clever Campus Innovation Award for its work in designing, developing and deploying LEAP.
  • Implemented a range of energy conservation measures in the Biological Sciences 2 as part of the building’s mechanical upgrade.
  • The Hill Lab became Australia’s first research laboratory to received certification from My Green Lab, considered the global standard for laboratory sustainability practices.
  • Completed installation of a 130kW rooftop solar system at the Mildura Campus, taking the total number of solar panels installed at our regional campuses to over 6,000 panels with more than 1.8MW capacity. Renewables now generate more than 25% of electricity consumed across all La Trobe regional campuses.
  • Commenced electrification works on the HHS1 building at the Bendigo Campus.
  • Our new Sports Stadium was awarded Australia’s first “6 Star Green Star Design and As Built v1.2 certified rating” for a sports building by the Green Building Council Australia, recognising ‘World Leadership’ in sustainable building practice.
  • More than 420 new LED lights or light poles have been installed at our Bundoora campus as part of our Public Lighting Project.

  • We announced that we have entered into a Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) with global energy leader Iberdrola, enabling us to purchase electricity from a renewable source, and by 2028 all electricity purchased will be 100 per cent emissions-free.

Net Zero Regional Campuses

Our four regional campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura and Shepparton are certified carbon neutral by Climate Active.

In 2021, La Trobe University’s Mildura and Shepparton campuses were the first Victorian university campuses to be certified as carbon neutral under the Climate Active certification process. This was followed in 2022 by our Albury-Wodonga and Bendigo campuses. This achievement was a landmark milestone in our Net Zero commitment.

Learn more about the initiatives undertaken at each of the campuses which contributed to this important certification:

  • Replaced all indoor campus lighting with LEDs.
  • Installed six EV chargers for student, staff, community and partner use, along with six for fleet use.
  • All security vehicles have transitioned to hybrid or electric.
  • The campus features two solar carports. The first carport generates 141,000 kilowatt hours of renewable electricity, while the second carport, constructed as part of the Net Zero program, includes 270 panels and produces around 110 kW of renewable energy, sufficient to power 25 households.
  • Installed rooftop solar panels on the library, teaching buildings and student accommodation.
  • Implemented the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) to monitor consumption patterns and enhance building performance on campus.

As a result of these initiatives, more than 40 per cent of total electricity consumption at the Albury-Wodonga campus is generated by on-site renewables.

  • Replaced all indoor campus lighting with LEDs.
  • Installed 12 EV chargers for chargers for student, staff, community and partner use, along with eight for fleet use.
  • All security vehicles have transitioned to hybrid or electric.
  • Constructed two solar carports in Car Parks 1 and 2 including almost 1,500 solar panels covering close to 200 parking spaces.
  • Transitioned the HHS1 building from gas to electric by replacing gas boilers and hot water services with a more sustainable and renewable heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) solution, making HHS1 the first fully electric building at La Trobe.
  • Installed over 3,800 solar panels at the campus, equivalent to producing enough power for over 300 households.
  • All security vehicles have transitioned to hybrid or electric.
  • Implemented an organic recycling program which sees all organic waste produced at the campus diverted from landfill and turned into a nutrient-rich soil fertiliser used on campus grounds.
  • Implemented the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) to monitor consumption patterns and enhance building performance on campus.

As a result of these initiatives, more than 30 per cent of total electricity consumption at the Bendigo campus is now being generated by on-site renewables.

  • Installed a 130 kW solar system, the equivalent to providing power for 25 houses.
  • Replaced 800 light fittings with energy-efficient LEDs, ensuring all campus lighting operates on LED technology.
  • Installed a Tesla Power Wall System to store onsite solar-generated power.
  • All security vehicles have transitioned to hybrid or electric.
  • Replaced the chiller with an energy-efficient alternative.
  • Installed high-efficiency chilled water pumps and Variable Speed Drives.
  • Optimised the Building Management System for heating, ventilation, and cooling.
  • Implemented the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) to monitor consumption patterns and enhance building performance on campus.

As a result of these initiatives, at peak operation, 100% of the Mildura campus is powered from onsite renewables.

  • Installed 115 solar panels, providing enough power to sustain over 20 households.
  • Replaced 807 light fittings with energy-efficient LEDs, ensuring that all campus lighting operates on LED technology.
  • Optimised the Building Management System for heating, ventilation, and cooling.
  • All security vehicles have transitioned to hybrid or electric.
  • Implemented the La Trobe Energy Analytics Platform (LEAP) to monitor consumption patterns and enhance building performance on campus.
  • The campus operates an organics pick-up and processing system, benefiting local farmers.