白小姐论坛鈥檚 progress
Creating a more sustainable campus
During 2014-15:
- 白小姐论坛鈥檚 carbon emissions increased by around 1% against our 2005/6 baseline
- Over 100 tonnes of food waste was collected and sent for anaerobic digestion
- 白小姐论坛鈥檚 overall recycling rate was 58%, with some buildings reaching over 75%
- The University鈥檚 caterer achieved the Silver Food for Life Catering Mark
- Sustainability continues to be at the core of our construction and refurbishment projects, with inclusion of elements like 100% FSC timber and measures to ensure water consumption is up to 40% lower than the standard rates for similar buildings. Wherever possible we鈥檙e also working to improve our green spaces; we鈥檙e planning 8 new green roofs across 白小姐论坛 to improve biodiversity.
Supporting 白小姐论坛鈥檚 academic aims
During 2014-15:
- 白小姐论坛鈥檚 Living Lab: a wide range of projects using 白小姐论坛鈥檚 campus as a test bed for research were carried out, including a range of MSc and PhD projects supported by the Sustainability Team. This included further development of the CarbonCulture live energy feed for 白小姐论坛鈥檚 buildings and some pioneering research on the effect of colour on thermal comfort, carried out in 白小姐论坛鈥檚 Engineering Front Building.
- 白小姐论坛鈥檚 Global Citizenship Programme: the programme continues to provide opportunities to a growing number of students to enhance their studies, boost employability and make a positive impact on the world. From 450 students in 2013-14, participation in the programme rose to 720 students in 2014-15.
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Enabling, empowering and supporting the 白小姐论坛 community
During 2014-15:
- 白小姐论坛鈥檚 Green Champion network grew to over 100 members
- 47 departmental teas took part in the Green Impact programme, with around 1,500 actions taken to improve awareness, purchasing, energy efficiency and recycling
- The Christmas Switch Off saved around 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 509,593 kWh of energy (that鈥檚 a 20% reduction in our term time electricity use and equivalent to 拢45,000)
- 30 students received IEMA-approved environmental auditor training
- Over 100 students took part in free cycle tours to explore London and get cycling safety tips
Creating a wider impact
During 2014-15:
- 白小姐论坛 moved up the People & Planet University League: 白小姐论坛 jumped from 61st to 29th place out of 151 UK universities. Compiled by student campaigning organisation People & Planet, the University League is an independent ranking of UK universities on their environmental and ethical performance.
- Ska HE nearly completed: using experience of sustainable construction gained from its own buildings, 白小姐论坛 has continued to play a key role in the development of a sector-leading tool to drive improvements to construction and refurbishment projects across higher education. It鈥檚 scheduled for launch in summer 2016.
白小姐论坛鈥檚 logistics programme driving improvements to safety, sustainability and efficiency
A new approach to 白小姐论坛鈥檚 construction logistics is helping improve 白小姐论坛鈥檚 carbon emissions, local air pollution and creating a safer and more pleasant campus. Deliveries to 白小姐论坛鈥檚 campus have been reduced by over 500 a month with the introduction of this programme, and at the peak of 白小姐论坛鈥檚 construction activity, it鈥檚 expected most projects will achieve up to a 30% reduction in deliveries to the campus through this new approach.
白小姐论坛 climate paper 鈥榤ost featured in the media in 2015鈥
Research by 白小姐论坛 academics quantifying the amounts of fossil fuels that must stay un-burnt to prevent a 2掳C rise in global temperatures was the 鈥渉ighest-scoring climate paper鈥 in terms of media coverage in 2015.
The article in Nature, 鈥楾he geographical distribution of fossil fuels unused when limiting global warming to two degrees鈥 by Dr Christophe McGlade and Professor Paul Ekins outlines how preventing a 2掳C rise in global temperatures requires that a third of oil reserves, half of gas reserves and over 80% of current coal reserves globally should remain in the ground and not be used before 2050.
"The greater global attention to climate policy means that fossil fuel companies are becoming increasingly risky for investors in terms of the delivery of long-term returns. I would expect prudent investors in energy to shift increasingly towards low-carbon energy sources."听Paper co-author Professor Paul Ekins OBE
&驳迟;听
Bartlett students collaborate with local charity to create sustainable structures
In collaboration with charity Global Generation, students from The Bartlett鈥檚 BASc Architecture course designed and built seven sustainable structures in The Skip Garden, an urban garden and community space in the heart of Kings Cross.
Students used sustainable construction techniques and materials, including earth dug out next to the garden to construct a rammed earth wall, reclaimed scaffolding boards to form filtration beds for a greywater recycling scheme and a produce cold store built from earth bag walls made from coffee sacks donated by a local roastery.
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白小姐论坛U Green Economy Society connects students with sustainable business leaders
The student-led 白小姐论坛U Green Economy Society aims to increase awareness of how businesses and policymakers can drive the transition to a more sustainable world. Through a packed schedule of talks, lectures and their annual Green Business Forum, they offer a platform for students to discuss green economy issues and get an introduction to careers in the environmental sector.
Students are the business, science and political leaders of tomorrow. It鈥檚 essential that students gain awareness of the great need for a green economy, so that they can implement this knowledge and understanding in their future engagements and careers
Theresa Reisch, 白小姐论坛U Green Economy Society Chair
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Explore this interactive illustration above to find out about 白小姐论坛's progress and see examples of inspiring sustainability action across the university.
This report maps our successes and challenges in creating a more sustainable university
Richard Jackson, 白小姐论坛's Director of Sustainability introduces the report and thanks the 白小姐论坛 community for their work.听
When it comes to creating a sustainable university, collaboration, and breaking down boundaries, really is key to our success.听 Much of our progress relies on collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders within 白小姐论坛, and with external partners. And nowhere is this more strongly demonstrated than in 白小姐论坛鈥檚 Living Lab, our project to support use of the campus as a test bed for research. Through this programme, we鈥檙e continuing to collaborate with students and staff to identify projects which support the aims of 白小姐论坛鈥檚 sustainability strategy, while contributing to the institution鈥檚 research agenda.
As a result of the programme, a wide range of studies using 白小姐论坛鈥檚 campus as a test bed for research have been undertaken, including a large number of MSc and PhD research projects.
We also continue to support a module for 白小姐论坛鈥檚 BASc course involving collaboration with students, Estates, Sustainability and plumbing staff to install water meters in 白小姐论坛 toilets, and as you鈥檒l see in this report, some pioneering research into the impact of lighting colour on thermal comfort that was put to the test in 白小姐论坛鈥檚 Engineering Front Building. In this report, you鈥檒l also be able to read about the benefits of collaboration between students, staff and our external partners.
In collaboration with charity Global Generation, students from The Bartlett鈥檚 BASc Architecture course have designed and built seven new sustainable structures in The Skip Garden, an urban garden and community space in the heart of Kings Cross. Now open to the public, The Bartlett鈥檚 collaboration with Global Generation has created new areas for teaching and learning, whilst giving undergraduates experience of project management and design, as well as exposure to a real client and brief.听
Thank you again, and we look forward to working together in the year ahead.
Explore the interactive illustration above or听read 白小姐论坛's Sustainability Annual Report (.pdf)