Window to prompt passers-by to question water use

The Swinburne Fish Tank, located on the corner of Swanston and Collins Streets, illustrates a joint sustainability message from Westpac and Swinburne University of Technology, which encourages passers-by to question their own behaviour with regard to water use.

"At a time when the government has introduced the target 155 water-saving campaign, the windows prompt us to question how long we can sustain our current habits," said Swinburne's National Centre for Sustainability (NCS) Team Leader, Kathryn Donnelly.

"For instance, I don't think that a lot of people would know that it takes seven litres of water to produce a single litre of bottled water, or that Australia's CO₂ emissions are increasing at twice the world average rate.

"Water is a precious resource that is easily taken for granted. Melbournians are fortunate to have access to high-quality drinking water and should question when, why and how they use it."

The interactive display shows Melbourne water storage levels and their gradual decline over the past 10 years. To further illustrate the indelible relationship between people and their environment, the fish also interact with passers-by, following them as they walk past.

"Both Swinburne and Westpac are committed to maintaining a sustainable future for us all, and hopefully the windows will encourage others to do the same, on a personal level," said Donnelly.

Swinburne has recently introduced Australia's first accredited course in carbon accounting, which is run by the NCS, located at the university's Wantirna campus. The course teaches participants how to identify, categorise and assess carbon emissions generated by their own workplace.