Green Campus Development
Situated in the center of a highly urbanized city, PolyU strives to create a green environment for teaching, research and campus operations. The campus serves as a testbed for new initiatives and green solutions innovated from research success. PolyU also seizes every opportunity to introduce green features to campus and blend them well with engagement and sustainability education activities. For example, a new urban farm with upcycled content has been set up at the Shaw Amenities Building (Block VA) Terrace utilizing different discarded and upcycled materials. Both this new urban farm and the existing one at Lee Shau Kee Building (Block Y) are useful instruments for urban farming activities. Students and staff can enjoy the fun of growing organic crops and repurposing unwanted materials.
Reverse Vending Machines
Multiple reverse vending machines have been set up in Block VA, Block Y and Block Z during the reporting year. On top of promoting plastic recycling, the reverse vending machines also serve the purpose of spreading a green message to encourage responsible and clean recycling of plastic bottles and inspire users to develop green habits.
The machines play an important role in the GreenCoin campaign. Campus GreenCoin users can earn virtual coins on the GreenCoin app after dropping clean plastic beverage bottles into the machines, and redeem coupons or other special offers with the virtual coins. This provides gamified experiences during the process of plastic bottles recycling, thereby further encouraging the participation from the University community.
Green Digital Platforms
PolyU takes full advantage in utilizing digital platforms to promote green campus development. Apart from the GreenCoin application and ResourcesSharing@PolyU platform aforementioned in the “Nurturing Environmental Awareness” section, PolyU has also maintained other interactive online platforms, including GreenMap@PolyU, TreeMap@PolyU, Fauna@PolyU as well as EVCharger@PolyU, to communicate the University’s green features and facilities to students, staff, visitors and the public.
GreenMap@PolyU
PolyU developed the GreenMap@PolyU that displays green features, facilities, and laboratories on various campuses and Student Halls of Residence. Through this interactive web-based tool, users can find the locations and information of a wide variety of green features on campus in a more convenient and accessible manner. The map also suggests trails for people to explore green facilities on the Main Campus.
TreeMap@PolyU
Tree and flower species on campus are documented in TreeMap@PolyU. Users can easily access pictures and information of individual plant species with just a simple click. It provides an easy-to-use platform to explore and appreciate flora biodiversity on campus. During the reporting year, TreeMap@PolyU has been redesigned for easier location of tree species on campus, while a new section on flower species has been introduced.
Fauna@PolyU
The Fauna@PolyU platform helps users identify different species of fauna on campus by providing information on various species. Complementing biodiversity education, the platform allows users to explore the features of fauna species interactively. For example, users can listen to recordings of frequently heard calls of birds by clicking the links under the descriptions of individual species.
EVCharger@PolyU
The EVCharger@PolyU platform aims to facilitate electric vehicle charging on campus. Campus users can check the availability of electric vehicle chargers at designated parking spaces in the University carpark. The platform also provides a user-friendly interface with frequent updates on the status of the chargers.