The Durban University of Technology’s Green Campus Initiative (GCI) proved to be victorious again at the 5^th Annual Green Campuses Conference held at the University of Western Cape.

Held from  3 to 7 July 2016, the conference was attended by 50 DUT representatives. From that number, 35 were GCI members, five were House Committee members and 10 were Residence Advisors. Since the start of the Green Campus Campaigns, DUT has been the only university representing KwaZulu-Natal.

The purpose of the conference is to share ideas, provide a platform for participating Universities to network  and to celebrate their hard work during the previous year, as well as come up with new innovative ideas to be implemented at the universities and the communities surrounding them.

The following awards were won by DUT:

DUT Durban Centre:

• Water Saving Award;
• Public Innovation Award (DUT was the first to host Green Indaba);
• Eco Runaway (DUT Durban’s garments were the best); and
• Silver Award for being the Greenest University.

DUT Midlands Centre:

• Green Award for Energy Saving: The DUT Midlands Centre is currently in a process of installing heat pumps that use 25% of heat energy and this was award was a recognition for their investment in electricity saving appliances.
• Green Award for Behavioural Change and Awareness: The DUT Midlands Centre’s massive recruitment, mobilisation and promotion of green programmes through education.
• Second Place for Eco Runaway Award: Their garments for the Green Fashion Show.
• Greenest Staff of the Year went to Ntokozo Dube f”or his immense contribution to greening, environmental education and sustainability on campus”. The award was voted by all delegates from the different universities represented.
• Greenest Student of the Year went to Banele Nqeto “for his immense contribution, environmental education and sustainability on campus”. This award was also voted by all delegates from the different universities represented.

“We must congratulate both Mr Dube and Mr Nqeto for their achievements,” said Xolela Xala, DUT GCI Chairman said. “We are also proud of each and everyone who has contributed to our victory. With all these achievements, we wish to bring back more awards in 2017; this is a journey worth travelling. All that we have achieved is through team effort and we aim to recruit more DUT staff and students to join us on this journey of being the greenest University,” she said.

The GCI movement began in 2007 and was started by students and staff  from the Department of Student Housing in a bid to address issues of sustainability within campuses.

– Noxolo Memela

Picture: The PMB DUT GCI team on arrival at the 5^th Annual Green Campus Conference.