Sustainability in action
Supporting slides
The Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria would like to acknowledge the contribution from the North Western Program Alliance, comprised of Level Crossing Removal Project, John Holland, Kellogg Brown & Root, Metro Trains Melbourne and V/Line. All photography and video are the property of the North Western Program Alliance and are not permitted to be reproduced or distributed in any form without prior written permission.
Understanding sustainability
sustainability
‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’
Brundtland Commission (United Nations) https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/sustainability
sustainable
Historical meaning:
‘bearable’ from ‘sustain’ + ‘able’
Contemporary meaning:
‘capable of being continued or maintained at a certain level’
Etymology source https://www.etymonline.com/word/sustainable
Types of sustainability (4 pillars)
Governance
Social
Economic
Environmental
Sustainability
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Sustainability Jigsaw
Sustainability Jigsaw
Sustainability in action – North Western �Program Alliance
Energy efficient buildings
Recall: energy transfers
Convection
Conduction
Radiation
Movement of fluids due to heat causing lower density
e.g. hot water or air moving upwards
Heat moving through a material due to particle vibration
e.g. a metal spoon in hot water
Transfer of energy through electromagnetic radiation
e.g. light from the sun travelling through space
How can we make buildings more efficient?
Manage energy transfers
More efficient technology
Smart usage
Insulation:
keep desired heat/cool inside
Glazing:
let in sun for heat and lighting
Shading:
protect from sun to keep cool
Lighting:
LEDs use less energy
Heat Pumps:
efficient heating and cooling
Sealing and ventilation:
keep heat/cool inside
Smart heating/cooling:
auto on/off (presence, timer)
Smart lighting:
auto on/off (presence, timer)
use less energy, create comfortable and useable indoor spaces
Energy monitoring:
track, analyse and improve
Maidstone Tram Maintenance Facility (TMF)
Designed so that glazing (and building materials for the walls and roof) allow natural light into the building
→ Reduce need for artificial lighting, save energy, improve useability (energy transfers)
Efficient LED lighting used
→ Reduce energy demand from lighting (efficient technology)
Melton Station pedestrian through link
Replacing old underpass
Designed so that glazing (and building materials) allow natural light into the pedestrian through link under the railway
Use of light colours to reflect light
→ Reduce need for artificial lighting, save energy, improve useability (energy transfers)
Pakenham Station canopy and skylights
Canopy protects travellers from rain and direct sunlight
Large skylights in the canopy provide natural lighting
→ Reduce need for artificial lighting, save energy, improve useability (manage energy transfers)
Double glazing in stations
Spaces that are conditioned (enclosed areas with heating and cooling installed) have double glazed windows.
This reduces energy transfers from the room to the outside environment.
Insulation in stations
Spaces that are conditioned (enclosed areas with heating and cooling installed) have insulation installed in external walls.
Similar to double glazing, this reduces energy transfers from the room to the outside environment.
Heat pumps for heating and cooling in stations
Electric heat pumps are used for cooling and heating (instead of gas heating).
Due to how they work, they are highly efficient at transforming electrical energy (plus the energy in the outside air) into heating or cooling.
LED lighting at Bell, Preston and Glenroy
Efficient LED lighting in station buildings and car parks.
→ Reduce energy demand from lighting (efficient technology)
Car park lighting also improves safety and useability.
Smart lighting at Keon Parade
Smart lighting in station buildings and surrounds. Automatically adapts lighting levels based on activity. Lights dimmed to 30%, gradually increasing to 100% when motion is detected. Reducing energy consumption and emissions.
Increases lifespan of lights and reduces maintenance needs.
Also reduces light spill to nearby residents.
Remote monitoring of energy and water
Implemented in stations including Reservoir, Coburg, Moreland and Glenroy.
Tracking of water and energy use throughout station. Analysis of this data makes it possible to improve efficiency over time. Also supports maintenance planning.
Remote control makes it possible to optimise usage.
Sustainable materials
Better use of resources: the circular economy
How can we use sustainable materials?
deliberately choose materials for sustainability
Substitute with better materials
Redesign to use less (and last longer)
Repair and maintain (design to support this)
Refurbish and remanufacture
Repurpose and reuse (find best new uses)
Recycle (find best sources and destinations)
Conduit recycling at Pakenham
Redirecting construction waste so that it does not go to landfill.
Old conduit pipes collected and crushed. Material then used to make new conduits or recycled plastic products.
→ Reducing waste through recycling
Recycled tyre kerb at East Pakenham
Kerb made from 60% recycled materials. Uses approximately three waste tyres per square metre. Can be recycled at end of life.
Reduces cement usage, substituting with a recycled product.
Reduces waste, by providing a destination for material from waste tyres.
Permeability also provides increased passive watering of vegetation by allowing water to soak into the surrounding ground.
Recycled plastic void former in concrete at Keon Parade
Recycled plastic concrete void formers. Replacing reinforcing bar chairs and reducing concrete use.
Resulted in 24% reduction in concrete use.
Reduces waste, by providing a destination for plastic recycling.
Recycled plastic aggregates in concrete at Keon Parade
Recycled plastic aggregate to replace use of rocks.
Reduces need for raw materials.
Reduces waste, by providing a destination for plastic recycling. Approximately 50,000 bottles diverted from landfill.
Recycled glass surface treatment at Keon Parade
Use of recycled glass for road and pavement treatment.
Replaces existing materials (sand is a finite resource), requiring less new resources.
Provides a recycling destination for recycled glass.
Recycled plastic noise walls at Maidstone TMF
Recycled plastic noise walls incorporating 80% recycled material.
Reduced carbon footprint by approximately 72% compared to concrete noise wall panels.
Reduced use of raw materials. Redirection of plastic waste (milk bottles, bread bags) from landfill.
Long design life of 50 years.
100% recyclable linear low-density polyethylene.
Reuse destination for railway sleepers
Partnership to divert used concrete railway sleepers from landfill (or lower value reuse).
Used for restoration of the former railway line between Healesville and Yarra Glen.
Recycled plastic sleepers at Maidstone TMF
Australia-first use of composite recycled plastic sleepers. Uses approximately 85% recycled plastics. Suitable for low-speed rail applications, such as in the tram maintenance facility.
Reduces concrete use, requiring less raw materials and reducing emissions.
Long design life of 50 years.
Fully recyclable at end of life.
Recycled timber seating at Keon Parade
Use of recycled timber for seating at stations such as Keon Parade.
Reduces use of new materials.
Provides suitable destination for recycled timbers. Higher value use than for e.g. mulching waste timber.
Recycled plastic reinforcing in concrete paths
Alternative to steel for reinforcing concrete. Used in pathways.
Recycled plastic, made from 100% recycled macro synthetic fibres.
Redirects industrial plastic waste from landfill.
Increased durability requires less maintenance over life span. Can be separated from concrete at end of life.
Reduction in carbon emissions by 90% compared to steel reinforcing mesh.
Recycling for protective clothing
Redirect clothing materials from waste into recycling
Reducing emissions
Emissions that contribute to climate change
Human emissions (carbon dioxide and more) are driving climate change
Reducing these emissions is urgently needed to limit the impacts of climate change
Image from NASA https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence/
How can we further reduce emissions?
use available technology and choose lower emission options
Reduce energy use, including efficiency, materials
Electrify buildings, transportation, machinery
Clean electricity, including on-site solar
Cleaner fuels during transition, such as biodiesel
Solar panels on Maidstone TMF
Installation of solar panels on roof of facility. 700 high-efficiency panels, delivering a capacity of 385 kW.
Reducing carbon footprint whilst also reducing energy costs by approximately 28%.
Solar panels at Pakenham
Installation of solar panels on roof of station. Capacity of 27 kW from 80 panels.
Saving 37 tonnes of carbon annually.
Biodiesel at Keon Parade and Maidstone TMF
Biodiesel is a biodegradable liquid fuel produced from renewable sources like vegetable oils or animal fats. It has similar properties to petroleum diesel.
It is mixed with petroleum diesel in different concentrations such as B5 (5% bio), B20 up to B100 which is pure biodiesel.
Maidstone used 20,000 litres of biodiesel saving approximately 54 tonnes of carbon emissions. Including use to power on-site generator.
Keon parade used over 3,000 litres of biodiesel to power light towers, telehandlers, knuckle booms, excavators, trucks.
Carbon concrete at Maidstone TMF
Trial of a lower carbon concrete at Maidstone TMF. Makes use of recycled aggregates from demolished buildings. CO2 is injected into the aggregates, which are then used in the concrete mix.
Resulted in a 42% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Produces a stronger concrete through the carbon injection process.
Solar shed
Reducing emissions from site facilities using solar power.
Providing off-grid and energy efficient site accommodation.
Saving of 6000 litres of diesel per year. Also reduced noise for the surrounding residents during nighttime.
Electric vehicles and equipment
Use of electric vehicles where feasible.
Increasing availability of suitable electric cars, utes and light commercial vehicles.
Use of electric forklifts.
Electrification of larger equipment is a future possibility.
Sustainability changemakers
Improving sustainability through design
Energy Efficient Buildings
Sustainable Materials
Reducing emissions
Manage energy transfers
More efficient technology
Smart usage
Substitute
Redesign
Repair and maintain
Refurbish
Repurpose and reuse
Recycle
Reduce energy use
Electrify
Clean electricity
Cleaner fuels
Example of impact of sustainability efforts
Example of impact of sustainability efforts
Example of impact of sustainability efforts
Example of impact of sustainability efforts
Sustainability changemakers activity