vision
statement
The ETC will be an international leader in the diffusion and continuing
development of environmentally sustainable technologies for sustainable
development and a Centre well endowed with innovative demonstrations,
quality research facilities and committed high calibre staff with strong
industry and community support.
mission
statement
The Centre’s mission is to carry out research, development and
diffusion of sustainable technology with industry and communities worldwide,
with a unique focus on small-scale systems for urban, rural and remote
communities.
sustainable
competitive advantage
The Centre’s sustainable competitive advantage is its status as
an established leader in the field of small scale, integrated environmentally
sustainable technologies appropriate to remote and developing communities,
sustained by its community support network and strong links to the international
environmental technology field and to the small to medium enterprises
which constitute the environment industry in Western Australia.
profile
The Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) is a Centre of Excellence
for Industry focussed Research & Development in Environmental Technology.
It receives recognition and funding from the Western Australia Department
of Commerce and Trade for this particular purpose. The ETC is a Partner
Centre for the Asia Pacific region of the United Nations Environment
Programme International Environmental Technology Centre. The aim of
the ETC is to research, develop and demonstrate environmental technologies,
conduct education and training, provide consultancy services to industry,
and raise community awareness of environmental technologies. Its facilities
are open to industries wishing to test and monitor products within the
university infrastructure.
The
ETC occupies a 1.7 hectare site on the Murdoch University campus at
which over fifty environmental technologies have been combined to form
an integrated operating demonstration system. The technologies used
and researched at the site include climate-sensible buildings, renewable
energy systems for power supply and water pumping, aquaculture systems,
organic waste management, and permaculture. The integrated approach
allows research to be carried out on the important interactions between
different technologies, rather than just the effect of a single technology.
This gives the ETC a considerable advantage over other research institutions
which focus on single technologies in relative isolation.
The
ETC is able to offer holistic and flexible solutions to human needs.
The ETC's focus is on small-scale environmental technologies, which
are low cost, robust, efficient, and easy to operate and maintain. The
aim of this is to maximise the opportunities for user communities to
"own" the technology, resulting in greater and more sustained uptake
of the technology, higher levels of community awareness and involvement,
and ultimately a more successful operation. This approach is highly
applicable to communities in developing countries, as well as to urban
communities worldwide, particularly when applied in collaboration with
industry and government.
