Case studies

As more organisations realise the benefits of making sustainability a key aspect of their operations, their leadership and innovative approach can inspire others to adopt their own sustainable practices.

• 385 Bourke St - demonstrating sustainability and commercial success

  Showing how sustainability and commercial success can be achieved in unison, the building tower at 385 Bourke St in Melbourne's CBD is leading the way.

• 500 Bourke Street - a new lease on life

  One of Australia's finest examples of concurrent refurbishment of both the base building and fit out to achieve a 5 star Green Star rating.

• AMCOR Fibre Packaging Plant, Scoresby - Steam Systems

  Find out how AMCOR reduced their usage by 115,000 kWh per annum, abating around 412 tonnes of greenhouse gas per annum.

• Ballan District Health and Care Superclinic

  The longstanding Ballan District Health and Care facility, west of Melbourne, is one of only 12 Bush Nursing Hospitals in Australia and was recently upgraded to include a new medical centre, Superclinic.

• Buzz Products

  Buzz aims to offer clients sustainable product options, with a focus on design, materials, manufacturing processes and transportation.

• Cement Industry Federation - Applying innovative solutions in transport

  The Cement Industry Federation's pilot project studying the benefits of a driver education eco-driving course demonstrated significant improvements in fuel efficiency.

• Ford, Geelong Manufacturing Plant - Lighting

  Find out how Ford (Geelong) reduced their energy consumption and saved $349,000 per annum.

• Geocycle industrial waste disposal

  Geocycle is making a difference to the sustainability of many industries by converting hazardous waste materials into fuel.

• Lifeline Gippsland e-Recycling

  Lifeline Gippsland has set up an e-waste collection and recycling service in the La Trobe Valley to re-use and recycle computers items such as TVs, DVD players and mobile phones.

• Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre

  Maribyrnong City Council, like many local councils across Australia, are owner-operators of large facilities and are therefore major consumers of energy and resources.

• Maribyrnong Cogeneration Project

  The Maribyrnong City Council owned Aquatic Centre began operating in mid 2006. A cogeneration system, not included in the original build due to financial constraints, has now been installed.

• Melbourne Convention And Exhibition Centre

  The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre has much more going for it than the function facilities it offers to guests.

• Melbourne Water's Eastern Treatment Plant

  The Eastern Treatment Plant in Melbourne's south east treats around 41% of Melbourne's sewerage and services about 1.5 million people in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs.

• Midfield Meat International - utilities system optimisation

  The Midfield Group (Midfield) is one of Australia's leading red meat processing companies. The company processes beef and smallstock (lamb, mutton and veal) along with their by‑products for the domestic and international markets.

• Murray Goulburn Co-operative Leongatha Plant - Compressed Air Systems

  FInd out how the Murray Goulburn Co-operative reduced their compressed air energy use by 30%, saving $147,000 per annum and abating around 1908 tonnes of greenhouse gas.

• Murray Goulburn pump efficiency case study

  As a part of the Murray Goulburn Co-operative's overall plant energy improvement programs, the engineering group implemented a pump system upgrade at its Koroit processing facility to improve the energy performance of identified systems in the plant.

• Mushroom Exchange, Mernda Mushroom Production Plant - Industrial Refrigeration

  Find out how the Mushroom Exchange processing plant reduced their refrigeration energy usage by 35%, abating 455 tonnes of greenhouse gas per annum.

• Nestle Pty Ltd Pakenham Food Processing Plant - Industrial Refrigeration

  Find out how the Nestle food processing plant in Pakenham reduced their refrigeration plant usage by 16%, abating around 840 tonnes of greenhouse gas per annum.

• Princes Laundry, Preston - Process Heating Systems

  Find out how Princes Laundry reduced their usage by 4087 GJ per annum, abating around 260 tonnes of greenhouse gas per annum.

• Solar innovation at work

  Read the latest case studies, illustrating innovative use of solar technology in community facilities.

• Sustainable buildings in Victoria

  Learn more about sustainable buildings around Victoria.

• Sustainable construction materials

  The selection of common construction materials can make an impact on greenhouse gas emissions produced. Embodied emissions from building materials, the full extent of direct emissions (production and distribution) and indirect emissions (raw materials and

• The Alex Fraser Group concrete crushing plant

  The Alex Fraser Group processes waste construction material such as concrete, asphalt, rock and glass and turns them into products suitable for re-use.

• The Gordon Culinary School

  In June 2010, The Gordon Culinary School set out on a journey in partnership with Sustainability Victoria to change the way the education and hospitality industries implement sustainable practices.

• Toorak College Mt Eliza

  Toorak College is instilling in its students an emphasis on learning about the environment and the impact each individual can have on it.

• Tuftmaster Carpets: Reducing environmental impacts across the board

  Winner of the 2007 Small Business Award for Outstanding Achievement in Greenhouse Gas Abatement

• Veolia - Foundry Sand Reuse

  Foundry sand is used in the casting of automotive components. Veolia Environmental Services and the automotive industry have developed a process for the reuse of waste foundry sand.

• Victoria University Footscray Park Campus vs Sunshine Campus - Data Centre & IT Facilities

  A new data centre facility has been built within the Sunshine campus of Victoria University that will see an estimated reduction in total energy consumption of up to 55%, resulting in yearly savings in excess of approximately 500 MWh,

• Viridian - Glass Furnace Upgrade

  As part of an upgrade in 2008, Viridian developed a suite of energy efficiency improvements in their glass furnace.