Green initiatives

This page highlights many of the initiatives that were initiated to reduce our envirnmental impact.

Venue

The new Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre is the world's only 6 star green star convention centre. This rating is achieved through design innovations such as the use of sustainable materials, solar water heating, black water recycling and efficient heating and cooling.

The venue also sources quality seasonal produce from local growers, reducing food miles and supporting local industry.  

These 'M Green' innovations insure the centre has a minimal impact on the planet.  

Conference dinner

A special dinner for the 6th National Housing Conference will be held at NGV International on Wednesday 24 November 2009.

NGV International
The venue for the dinner, the National Gallery of Victoria, is committed to environmental sustainability in its water, energy and waste management practices throughout both of its buildings located on St Kilda Road (NGV International) and Federation Square (The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia). These measures include:

  • Water and energy conservation and efficiency,
  • Reducing quantity of solid waste, and increasing recovery of waste for reuse,
  • Recycling and energy generation,
  • Encouraging cultural change to support environmental sustainability, and
  • Identifying operational efficiencies.

Peter Rowland Catering
The dinner menu will showcase the finest seasonal produce from local suppliers. These local suppliers are selected for the long term sustainability of their farming practices and minimal impact they have on the environment.

Peter Rowland Catering has also identified the impact recycling and food wastage has on the environment, and is currently reducing their impact through initiatives such as food organics recycling system, which recycles all fruit, vegetable, flowers and plate scrapings into compost.

Offsetting travel carbon

There are various websites that allow you to calculate and offset your carbon emissions from travel. Climate Care is recommended by the conference co-hosts as a comprehensive and easy to use website. Those delegates who are keen to offset their travel carbon can calculate and pay a levy via the Climate Care website.

Transport - site tours

The bus company selected to support the National Housing Conference, SITA Coaches, are active in minimising their impact on the environment. Particularly:

  • Use of efficent routes to minimise mailage and fuel consumption.
  • Maintaining an up-to-date fleet with euro 5 spec engines ensures reduce emissions.
  • Using bio-degradable environmentally friendly cleaning products to clean the interior and exterior of all vehicles.
  • Recycled water is used to wash vehicles, fresh water for rinsing is also recycled.

Conference materials

As part of the commitment to environmentally sustainability, the conference co-hosts will be selecting only environmentally friendly materials and products for use at the conference.  This will include fully recyclable and biodegradable satchels, pens, lanyards and nametags.