Environmental Report 2018-19
IT BEGINS WITH BUCKS EST.
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Estates, Facilities and Services Directorate Introduction The University has continued to make good progress against its environmental targets. Carbon emitted by the University has continued to fall along with the quantity of waste produced. This report is based on the 2017/18 data submitted to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). It should be noted that due to changes in the ownership of the University estate, Hughenden Student Village is no longer included in these statistics. In previous years only phase 2 of Hughenden was included.
This result in carbon reduction means that the University has beaten its emissions target 4 years early. Only 31 universities have currently met the sector target set by HEFCE in 2010, for all institutions to achieve a reduction of 43% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. Bucks 64% reduction places the University in 2nd place in English institutions by absolute percentage carbon reduction from a 2005/2006 baseline.
Progress since 2017/18 a. Carbon Reduction Bucks New University set itself a target of a 50% reduction of its scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions (gas, vehicle fuel and electricity) by the year 2020 against a 2005/2006 baseline of 6,975 tonnes. To date, based on data submitted to HESA in the EMS returns for 2017/2018, Bucks New University has achieved a 64% reduction (figure 1). The annual University carbon footprint now stands at 2,509 tonnes CO2, a 647 tonne reduction from the previous year.
After a slight rise in 2015/2016 the total amount of energy used by the University has fallen for the last two years (figure 2). This contributed to the reduction in the University’s scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint along with the continued decarbonisation of the UK electricity generation. From 1st October 2018 new contracts have been running for purchasing gas and electricity. As part of this new contract green electricity tariffs are being used to purchase renewable electricity, at minimal additional cost.
Figure 1 – Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions released each year by Bucks New University. An annual carbon emissions target was set in 2010 with the aim of reducing total tonnes of carbon by 50% by 2020/21 based on a 2005/06 baseline.
Figure 2 – Total energy (electricity, gas and oil) used by Bucks New University. Following the success of the motion sensors installed on the third and fourth floor of North Wing to control the air conditioning, these sensors will also be installed on the first and second floors during 2019. Work continues on improvements to the building management system. This allows the Estates team to have greater control over heating and cooling areas of the University.
These systems can then be used more efficiently, saving utility costs and carbon emissions. Onsite generation of renewable electricity from the University’s solar panels has jumped up this year. This follows a plateau on generation last year following technical issues with some of the equipment in the previous year, affecting production during the summer months.
Figure 3 – Total electricity produced by onsite photovoltaic cells at Bucks New University.
b. Environmental Management
d. Waste management
Following a successful audit in January 2019 the University has achieved Gold accreditation in the Eco Campus environmental management system scheme. This award demonstrated the good management practices the University has implemented to better manage its environmental risks and responsibilities.
The total waste produced by the University in 2017/18 was 330 tonnes (figure 4). This is a decrease over the previous year’s total by 50 tonnes. Waste produced by the University reduced due to a reduction in construction activity, along with less waste produced by the halls of residence and a reduction in the waste sent to landfill by the main High Wycombe campus. Recycling rates have risen this year to 51%.
c. Carbon Trust Accreditation In January 2018 the University has successfully retained its Carbon Trust Standard for carbon reduction for the period 2017-2019. For the assessment period the University had to demonstrate actual carbon reduction across its estate. The University was initially certified to the Carbon Trust Standard in August 2011. The certification is valid for 2 years and recertification was also achieved in 2013 and 2015. We are one of only a handful of universities that have maintained this accreditation consecutively from 2011 to 2019 inclusively.
Waste management practices are constantly being reviewed. Waste from halls of residence is now being sent to a waste to energy plant, rather than landfill. Changes to a dry mixed recycling waste stream in October 2018 should further improve recycling rates in future years.
Figure 4 – Total waste produced by the University year on year.
e. Water Consumption Reduction Water consumption fell by 29% in 2017/18 compared to 2016/17 (figure 5). Much of this reduction was due to the removal of Hughenden from the data set. As Hughenden is en suite water use per person is higher than a halls with shared facilities. Having said that comparing like for like data (the removal of Hughenden from the 2016/17 data) does show a drop in water consumption of just over 4,000 m3 of water across the remaining sites.
Figure 5 – Total water consumption at Bucks New University year on year.
f.
Space management
The quantity of teaching space under central timetabled control is 54%. More dedicated workshops and studios are being moved to the central timetable for the start of the 2018/2019 academic year. Occupancy of general teaching rooms (number of students attending compared to capacity of the room) has also improved from last year and now stands at 47%, the sector median. The latest teaching space audit identified at High Wycombe that 73% of teaching hours were provided to groups of less than 15 students. Estates are currently engaged in work to rationalise existing office space at High Wycombe. This includes the co-location of all new school academic offices, the registry onto a single floor and co-location of all dedicated research staff. The consolidation of the main workshops is complete and the largest vacant workshop W7 – 370m2 was leased for 6 months to a film production unit to make film sets. In September 2018 235m2 of office space was leased to Bucks Business First (BBF) to accommodate their 50 office staff and provide a business hub to serve the local businesses in the County. BBF have also agreed to hire meeting and seminar rooms on the Campus as well as encourage their business contacts to hire space at the University. g. Travel Management The University’s obligation to report on travel management to Hillingdon Borough Council for the Uxbridge campus has now been completed and signed off by the Council. Therefore no detailed travel monitoring was undertaken this year. Events were held at both the High Wycombe campus and Uxbridge campus to promote walking. This initiative was undertaken by Living Streets, a charity who promote everyday walking. Stalls were held at both campuses and staff and students were invited to make pledges to walk more. Information and advice was also available from Living Streets on how a person could increase their everyday walking.
h. Biodiversity The wild flower garden established in 2011 adjacent to South Wing is replanted every year and generally receives very positive feedback from students, employees and the general public. i.
Construction and Refurbishment
All major planned building project work has been completed with the level 2 of South Wing handed over to the University in June 2019. The two undeveloped ground floor spaces at the Aylesbury Campus have now been converted to offices to house the business hubs. A planned redecoration of all circulation space has now commenced and once completed all the teaching spaces will receive a refresh. This is being undertaken by an in house decorator j.
Community Involvement
Bucks New University continues to host the wellattended Community Liaison Group. In addition the University continues to build up relationships with the teams from the two new care homes being built adjacent to the existing University student residential site at Hughenden - Extra Care Charitable Trust and the Royal Star and Garter home for ex-service personnel. k. Greening the Curriculum The University will take forward initiatives from the new schools to include issues of environmental concern and sustainability within the curriculum. l.
Sustainable Procurement
Sustainable procurement is being taken forward by the procurement manager in the Finance Directorate.
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