ISSN 2048-2442 (Online)
Greenlines
M No on w th ly
A sustainability newsletter for the University
The Environmental Office Special Edition
Issue number 28
November 2012
The new Environmental Office
T
he University of Cambridge Environmental Office has expanded. There is now a new team in place determined to kick start environmental action at the University.
Meet the team:
Joanna Simpson, Environment Officer
The University’s Environmental Office is based within Estate Management and its remit includes implementing the University’s Environmental Policy and working to engage and support staff and students in managing the University’s environmental impacts. The University’s Environmental Strategy Committee oversees the development of the Environmental Policy and strategic progression of green issues across the University. This includes objectives relating to carbon emissions, waste, energy, water, travel, biodiversity and sustainable procurement. Managing environmental impacts and embedding sustainability principles will support the University of Cambridge’s mission to contribute to both operational and academic excellence. Inside this issue The new Environmental Office
1
Living Laboratory for Sustainability
1
Green Impact University of Cambridge 2 - 3 From inside a Department
3
Environmental excellence
4
Moving forward
4
Environmental Office, Estate Management University of Cambridge 74 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RW Tel: 01223 337770 E-mail: environment@admin.cam.ac.uk
Follow the University’s Environmental Team: @CambridgeSust
Claire Hopkins, Living Laboratory Coordinator
Leila McElvenney, Sustainable Behaviour Assistant
Catrin Darsley, Environmental Coordinator
Living Laboratory for Sustainability The University of Cambridge has secured funding from Santander to run the Living Laboratory for Sustainability. Claire Hopkins from the US has been appointed to coordinate this project. The Living Lab’s goal is to improve the sustainability of the University by using the Estate to test and research real world environmental problems while improving the educational experience of students attending the University. The Living Lab seeks to involve students from diverse academic backgrounds to create dynamic solutions to the operational challenges of the University. It looks to be a platform for academic staff to suggest and steer research on the University Estate. Page 1
The Living Lab will achieve its aims through developing projects that will connect students, academic staff and Estate Management staff. This collaboration will lead to innovative research and practical projects that will enhance the sustainability of the University. Essentially, the Living Lab aims to be an umbrella for student research and projects on the University Estate that aim to benefit the University’s operational sustainability. Do you have any ideas for projects or research that we could support? Please contact Claire Hopkins on living.laboratory@admin.cam.ac.uk
Greenlines
Teams across the University have already registered for Green Impact
G
reen Impact University of Cambridge was launched at Homerton College on 12th November, 2012. Departmental Environmental Coordinators and Energy Champions were invited to the Environmental Action Event where Leila McElvenney, Sustainable Behaviour Assistant, launched the University’s exciting new departmental environmental accreditation scheme. Join other departments across the University who have signed up to this vibrant scheme by visiting: greenimpact.org.uk/Cambridge For more information contact: greenimpact@admin.cam.ac.uk Groups of staff form teams and sign up to an online workbook that acts as a framework for environmental
...a platform for teams to come together and rally around a common cause.. improvements. The teams aim to achieve the bronze, silver or gold accreditation through fulfilling a variety of clear environmental criteria. Once their workbooks have been submitted, departments are audited by Cambridge University student auditors to ensure their submissions are accurate and to provide extra support where necessary. The success of all the participating staff and students will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on 13th June, 2013. Green Impact Universities and Colleges began at University of Bristol where it was piloted in
association with NUS, Defra and the Environmental Association for University and Colleges (EAUC). Due to its success, Green Impact University and Colleges is now nationwide and has been very successful at over 50 other universities. Last year Green Impact recruited 978 teams, engaged 44,655 staff and 21,639 environmental actions were completed as a direct result. Why should sign up?
your department
Green Impact has many benefits for the individual, the team and the department. Green Impact provides opportunities to save resources and money, increase the reputation for the department and opportunities to build professional and personal skills. It also helps the University build a network of best practices across all departments, and gives people the recognition for their efforts and achievements. With Green Impact, there is something in it for everyone. Whether that is the wish to reduce the department’s environmental footprint, a desire to compete with rival departments, or the chance to be part of a team and get to know more people in the workplace. Green Impact provides this platform for teams to come together and rally around a common cause– achieving gold! Being part of Green Impact means that you are not a lone voice in your department but part of a supportive network of many voices across the
Page 2
Issue 28 University and across the UK. This support network starts with the Environmental Office. They provide general support for your team,
Environmental Action Event 12.11.12
offering advice and direction on aspects of the workbook that you may need help with. They will also support you by preparing resource materials such as posters, pamphlets and merchandise to help you engage your colleagues. Another useful source of support will be fellow Green Impact teams. Teams across the University will be undertaking the same criteria as you so they will be a good source of advice on how to overcome any hurdle. The Environmental Office will encourage cross-team support by running networking events throughout the year. Also, there is the opportunity to have support from student volunteers called Green Impact Project Assistants. These are students who are recruited to provide extra support
and assistance in completing your workbook. Students commit to 6 hours a month and are trained by NUS to help support you through your workbook. Prizes will be given to teams who have registered their before Christmas, so be sure to get in touch so not to miss out! To sign up visit: www.greenimpact.org.uk/ cambridge For more information visit Green Impact coffee morning– see upcoming events or email greenimpact@admin.cam.ac.uk
From inside a Department – Land Economy Greenlines is proud to introduce a new feature that highlights a Department with exemplary sustainability practices. This month we welcome Dr Ann Thompson from the Department of Land Economy.
In 2010, we had outgrown our offices in Land Economy and were allocated office space in need of refurbishment in 17 Mill Lane. We
As we couldn’t replace our windows with double glazing we fitted simple low-cost draught proofing strips. Solar film on south facing windows and venetian blinds reduce the sun heating the office space during the summer. We can also open windows to create a cross-draft which means we do not need airconditioning. We fitted long-life fluorescent low glare uplighters dimmable by a programmable “Eco-System” which responds to light conditions. The “Eco-System” turns individual lights down or off when light levels, say next to windows, are high enough that the electric lighting is not Page 3
needed, and turns off lights in rooms where no movement has been detected for 10 minutes. Our stairwell and corridor lighting is controlled by Passive Infra Red movement detectors to ensure that these areas are lit when needed and that lights are not left on in an empty building. Sadly, there were no energy use figures available for our little corner of 17 Mill Lane from before our refit so no way of seeing exactly how our efforts have reduced energy use. Dr Ann Thompson
I am the Environmental Coordinator in the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research – our research focuses on reducing carbon emissions throughout the Global Economy and Energy sector which includes energy use and efficiency in buildings. Our Director, Doug Crawford-Brown, is the driving force behind Cambridge Retrofit, a 40year initiative to reduce energy use in Cambridge by fitting buildings in the city with effective energy efficiency measures.
originally wanted the refit to be as energy efficient as possible and to measure our energy use and savings, though we ended up compromising as many eco-friendly measures and materials were not feasible through the University systems.
Greenlines — A sustainability newsletter for the University
Environmental excellence - efforts receive external recognition The environmental efforts of the University have received external recognition from prestigious external bodies. The Sainsbury Laboratory has been awarded the prestigious Stirling Prize for architecture for 2012. Despite the high energy demands of laboratories this building achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. BREEAM is an environmental assessment rating for buildings. The University aims to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating on all new buildings. The Sainsbury Laboratory has 1,000 square
metres of photovoltaic panels and extensive natural lighting. The building has also been designed to ensure the place is flexible for longterm use. This enables research spaces to change as the needs of scientists change. The University has recently been highly commended in the Green Gown Awards, which recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives in the higher and further education sectors. The University picked up the award in the highly competitive carbon reduction category for the Electricity Incentivisation Scheme
which has been successfully devised and implemented by the Energy Team in August 2008.
Joanna Simpson, David Green and Caroline Blackman-Edney receiving at the Green Gown awards in Birmingham November, 2012
Moving forward... The Environmental Office is taking great steps to further sustainability at the University and we hope this Special Environmental Office Edition of Greenlines has shown some of the ways we are doing this, but we need your help. The Environmental Office is asking for your feedback. Let us know how we can help you make your Departments more sustainable. Thanks to your feedback we have already started implementing some changes. Environmental Coordinators and Energy Champions told us that they wanted more communication and not just from the Environmental Office, but from other departments. Greenlines will now be issued monthly to keep you up to speed. Greenlines will be used as a tool to help raise awareness, share knowledge and let you know how you can get
“Sustainability is being taken very seriously at the University of Cambridge and there is a motivated team behind it” - Mick Young, CMS involved at the University. We will also be asking for submissions from departments to be included in our new feature “From inside a Department”. In addition to more frequent editions of Greenlines, the Environmental Office will be organising monthly events to facilitate communication between different departments across the University. So keep an eye on our “Upcoming events” section to the right.
to use across your Department. If you have any other comments or questions about environmental issues at the University or would like to be on the distribution list for Greenlines, please contact the Environmental Office on environment@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Upcoming events Green Impact coffee morning 13th Dec between 8.45-10.00
Drop into 74 Trumpington St. to find out more about Green Changes yet to come. Currently Impact. Chat to us about the Environmental Office is busy anything, from starting up, to getting things ready for a New going for gold! Year re-launch. The Environmental Coffee and pastries will be available between 8.45-10.00 Office will have a new look, new and there will be a short website, and plenty of branded presentation at 9.15. resources, such as posters, Everyone is welcome. stickers and templates, for you See you there! Page 4