From rainwater harvesting, to student vegetable gardens, fauna friendly fencing and biodegradable coffee cups, Charles Sturt University (CSU) is funding innovative projects to reduce its environmental footprint. In 2011, CSU Green has allocated almost $100 000 to fund eight sustainability projects. The grants are awarded annually as part of CSU’s commitment to reduce energy and water use, increase biodiversity, cut solid waste, and co-operate with communities towards sustainability. CSU Green communication officer, Ms Nicole Maher, said the project ideas come directly from staff and students. “People who are doing something every day often have really smart ideas about how things can be changed to improve the sustainability of what they are doing, and the sustainability grants offer an opportunity for them to make these changes,” she said. A sustainability film festival, a project to better manage remnant vegetation at the Albury-Wodonga campus, rehabilitation of Village Creek at Bathurst, and the development of a native plant nursery in Wagga Wagga, are also being funded through the program.