Our goal

At Medley Hall we have taken up the challenge of contributing to a sustainable world. Our goal is to combine academic excellence with ethical practice in a socially aware, environmentally conscious community. To help make a difference, apply here to join us at Medley Hall.

Food

All the eggs used in the Medley kitchen are from free range hens and all chicken served is also free range. Meat is almost exclusively Enviromeat, from a collective of producers using sustainable farming practices in Gippsland (see link). Once or twice a week, in the interests of the environment, both main courses on offer for the evening meal are vegetarian. Our aim is to use local produce wherever possible.

Recycling

Student rooms are equipped with paper recycling bins, and recycling bins for metals, plastics and other recyclables are available in student kitchens.

Water

Shower timers enable students to monitor their water consumption, and staff and students are encouraged to save water wherever possible. In 2007, water consumption (measured in kilolitres/day) fell 8.26% – from 9.17 to 8.41 – in comparison with the same period last year.

Energy

In 2007, Medley’s electricity consumption (measured in greenhouse gas emissions by tonne) fell 9.9% — from 133.23 to 120.04 — and gas consumption fell 17.46% from 3395.81 to 2803.04 in comparison with 2006.

Climate Positive

On 1 January 2008, Medley Hall became climate-positive, offsetting 1.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide for every tonne emitted on site. We achieve this by participating in carbon-abatement programs administered by Climate Positive, a not-for-profit organisation that assists individuals, communities, businesses and policy makers to understand and take action on climate change. Climate Positive offsets by investing in accredited projects which develop infrastructure to support renewable energy for 100% of emissions produced, and undertakes additional restoration of biodiverse forest to build resilience for future climate change.
To achieve carbon neutrality, Medley Hall is offsetting Scope 1 and 2 emissions as defined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Our consumption of gas and stationary electricity both fall into these categories. In addition, we aim to raise awareness about the existence of other emissions, such as those generated by individuals’ use of transport, or by the production and delivery of food, and to invite students to take responsibility for these aspects of their carbon footprints, if not now then in the future.
The cost of the Climate Positive initiative to Medley Hall’s budget is in the order of 0.2%, or as little as $2 per week for each student. One of the many aims of the initiative is to demonstrate how little it can cost organisations and individuals to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.