Annual Environmental Sustainability Statement 2012-13
Let’s make a sustainable planet
Environmental management systems & legislation compliance
6
Introduction
Sustainability research, innovation & knowledge exchange
Learning for a sustainable future
Sustainability engagement
12
14
8
With 33,000 students and 3,000 staff, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is a significant contributor to the Greater Manchester economy. As such, we have a responsibility to ensure our activities do not create adverse environmental impacts. In order to meet this responsibility, MMU needs to have staff, students and graduates, who are informed about sustainability and can articulate and apply their knowledge and skills in the transition towards a low carbon society.
Emissions and discharges to the Environment
Biodiversity & growing systems
38
18
‘Let’s make a sustainable planet’ is MMU’s campus-wide call to action to reduce our environmental impact. Its aim is to be innovative and inclusive, and most of all, to enhance communication on this important topic. This year (2012/13) we have seen continued improvement in many areas of our Environmental Policy commitments and in our ability to measure and report success. The development and implementation of the Environmental Sustainability Strategy has led to MMU being recognised as the UK’s Greenest University 2013. This has further enhanced the University’s reputation on an individual, local and national basis.
Water management
36 Energy management
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Strong links built with the MMU Futures initiative have increased sustainability awareness and a growth in engagement with students eager to gain sustainability skills, learn new positive behaviours and create opportunities for eco-entrepreneurship. This year the University has committed to placing sustainability at the heart of the curriculum, which has become a major sector talking point. We hope that this can become a vehicle for true integration, course mapping and measurement of Learning for a Sustainable Future, with KPIs that can track our progress and support our Global Citizens agenda.
Waste management
Sustainable & ethical procurement
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22
Dr John Hindley, Head of Environmental Strategy
2
Contents
Travel plan management
Sustainable buildings
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24 3
Other key achievements: • 17% reduction in carbon emissions since 2005-06 • Reuse and Recycling target improved by 9.5% to reach 40.1% • 15.7 tonnes of unwanted items donated through our Zero Waste campaign, enabling the British Heart Foundation to raise £47,500
Making an Impact During 2012-13, our achievements were recognised with the following high profile awards: • MMU ranked Greenest University in the People and Planet Green League, which benchmarks Higher Education Institutions in the UK for sustainability performance • Green Gown Award winners 2012 (UK and International) in the ‘Continuous Improvement: Institutional Change’ category • MMU member of staff, James Woodward, won the Ecologist’s Higher Education ‘Environmental Hero Award’ as part of the Green Impact Project
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• Water consumption reduced further by 5.4%, meaning a cumulative reduction of 11.1% since 2010-11 • 94% of students state that the University has ‘an eco-friendly attitude to the environment’ • 90% of staff believe MMU is acting responsibly on the issue of environmental sustainability • 84% of staff believe MMU communicates well on environmental sustainability • 80% of staff are aware of the University’s call to action: ‘Let’s make a sustainable planet’ • Our electricity is now from 100% green energy sources • Fairtrade University accreditation retained • Level 1 of the Sustainable Procurement Centre of Excellence Flexible Framework Standard achieved • MMU initiated Greater Manchester Hydrogen Partnership to improve the region’s capacity to address the challenges of future energy demand • 3% annual reduction in car kilometres per employee for business travel • The European Environmental Paper Network (EEPN) assessed 60 UK organisations on their paper efficiency. MMU scored 76%, the only ‘high flyer’ in the university sector for our paper reduction policies and MMU print project
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Environmental Management Systems and Legislative Compliance
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ouraims Develop an integrated approach to environmental management and embed environmental issues into all University business operations, Faculties and Departments. Ensure compliance with relevant environmental legislation and non-statutory regulatory requirements.
our progress
Platinu Level m Eco C ampus
We have developed a new Environmental Management Systems (EMS) framework covering 12 Environmental Sustainability Policy themes and are on track to attain Platinum level Eco Campus (equivalent to ISO 14001) by 2015-16. We’ve ensured compliance with environmental legislation and are undertaking compliance audits and developing new compliance procedures as part of the EMS.
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environmental management systems and legislative compliance 6
7
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ouraims Deliver sustainability themed research activities. Support sustainability knowledge exchange between our research communities and external organisations. Use the University’s operational functions and estate as potential subjects for sustainability research and innovation.
sustainability research, innovation and knowledge exchange
ourprogress The addition of Sustainability Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange to the Environmental Sustainability Policy reflects the University’s aim to continue to deliver and grow sustainability themed research. Our work informs curriculum development, shapes business and professional practice and influences policy-making, both nationally and internationally. MMU already has a number of Research Institutes, which aim to find solutions to global sustainability challenges.
casestudy
Greater Manchester Hydrogen Partnership MMU identified a need to create a regional Hydrogen Partnership to improve the region’s capacity to address the challenges of future energy demand. Since this time, MMU have engaged a range of educational, commercial and public sector partners to form the ‘Greater Manchester Hydrogen Partnership’. The partnership aims to bring together knowledge and skills and create opportunities for internationally renowned research that addresses global energy challenges and tests hydrogen fuel cell technology in the region.
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Going forward, a series of innovative hydrogen projects, such as a ‘Schools Hydrogen Challenge’ will be delivered by STEM Education North West in twenty schools across Greater Manchester during 2014. Such projects aim to create long-term results by integrating ideas about low carbon futures into the curriculum.
sustainability research, innovation and knowledge exchange 8
9
learning for a sustainable future
ouraims
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Embed sustainable development into formal curricula to offer our students opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge to live and work sustainably.
casestudy
Attitudes towards Sustainability Literacy A research project was commissioned to assess student, staff and employer attitudes towards sustainability literacy, assessing attitudes towards incorporating Education for Sustainable Development in the curriculum, and examining the importance of the knowledge and skills associated with Sustainability Literacy for employability. Overall, the research indicated that: •
The extent sustainability development is taught varies across all faculties
•
Students studying Faculty of Business perceived sustainability literacy as having the most value to their future career and employability prospects
•
Students who want to learn about sustainable development was consistently higher than the number of students who perceived they were already being taught it
•
82% of the employers questioned valued skills and knowledge associated with sustainability literacy as important for graduate employability
•
The employers questioned valued the important of sustainability literacy to a greater extent than both academic staff and students
•
The majority of employers questioned thought that graduates in general did not understand Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development and stated that social and environmental responsibility would form part of future selection criteria
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The findings from this research support and reinforce the importance of MMU’s commitment to put sustainability at the heart of course design, as well as recognising the role sustainability should play in order for MMU to class itself as The University for World-Class Professionals.
learning for a sustainable future 10
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ouraims Offer opportunities to staff and students to engage with the sustainability commitments of the University.
sustainability engagement
ourprogress Through our flagship engagement programme, ‘Let’s make a sustainable planet’, we’ve continued to engage students, staff and the local community in a range of sustainability initiatives, all of which encourage and promote pro-environmental behaviours and awareness. Sustainability is now one of the three pillars (Employability, Community and Sustainability) of MMU Futures, an extra-curricular scheme for students to gain new skills and enhance their employability. Since our sustainability journey began, we’ve continued participate in behaviour and awareness focussed projects, some of which include Green Impact, Student Switch Off, Zero Waste, Carbon Literacy, Climate Week, Fairtrade Fortnight and numerous cycle events. We have also asked our staff how we are doing in a university-wide staff survey conducted in 2013. 84% of respondents think that MMU communicates well on environmental sustainability issues, over 80% are aware of ‘Let’s make a sustainable planet’ and 71% are aware of how they can engage with this. 96.7% of staff know how to save energy and recycle (along with other ‘green’ practices) at work, a good indication that engagement programmes such as Green Impact are helping to shape more ‘environmentally aware employees’.
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2012
Green Gown Award Winners
Continuous Improvement: Institutional Change
sustainability engagement 12
84%
MMU employees think that university communicates well on environmental sustainability issues
96.7% MMU employees are engaged with saving energy and recycling
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sustainability engagement
casestudy
Pop Swap As part of their Green Impact project, MMU Recruitment and Admissions team created a pop-up clothes and book exchange for staff and students.
POP SWAP
Pop Swap, aimed at raising awareness of more sustainable wardrobes and promoting a reuse ethos, gave our student volunteers the opportunity to work alongside MMU staff to help coordinate, deliver and promote the event. The event saw Recruitment and Admissions win the Green Impact ‘Special Award for Innovation’ category, and has encouraged us to roll out a series of one day Pop Swap events where a stronger focus will be placed on student leadership and coordination opportunities.
Over 1000
‘swappable’ items were collected
Over 300 attendees
sustainability engagement 14
All the un-swapped items at the end of the event were donated to the British Heart Foundation.
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ouraims
Emissions and Discharges to the Environment
ourprogress We’ve reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions, which are now 16.8% below the 2005-06 baseline year. Emissions increased by 4.9% in 2012-13, due to increased gas consumption during unexpectedly cold spring weather.
Ensure University activities are geared towards reducing and minimising greenhouse gas emissions directly and indirectly (Scope 1, 2 and 3), derived from the University’s estate and business activities.
Over the past year we have measured our Scope 3 carbon emissions. These are emissions that occur from the manufacture and procurement of goods and services, staff and student commuter travel and from the treatment of our waste and water. These are becoming part of standard measurement and reporting processes in the Higher Education sector. Going forward, the consolidation of MMU’s campuses, including the closure and disposal of the Hollings, Didsbury and Elizabeth Gaskell campuses, and the opening of Birley Campus will help deliver significant improvements in the energy usage of our estate, resulting in a continued reduction in the University’s carbon footprint.
Prevent pollution by minimising local discharges to air, land and water, avoiding or limiting, the use of environmentally damaging substances, materials and processes.
Will We Achieve Our Targets? To ensure that we meet our ambitious carbon reduction target of 50% by 2035, it’s imperative that we develop an energy investment strategy to identify key opportunities for energy efficiency improvements in our existing estate and infrastructure.
Carbon Emissions Reduction 0%
-16.8%
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achieved
percentage reduction
-35% target
-50% target
emissions and discharges to the environment 16
-50% 5-6
15-16
12-13
20-21
Year
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energy management
ouraims “
ourprogress
Reduce operational energy consumption from the University estate to help achieve carbon emissions reduction targets and cost savings.
We have further invested in energy efficiency projects, secured £1m of external funding for LED lighting upgrades and server-room consolidation projects, and continued to roll out extensive sub-metering across the estate to better understand our consumption. Significant carbon savings generated from these projects will be realised soon. However, the University’s electricity consumption increased by 2% and gas consumption by 14% in 2012-13, primarily due to cold Spring weather which contributed to an increase in carbon emissions of 4.9% from the previous year. Behaviour also plays an important role in our future emissions reduction. We have developed ‘MMU Environment Live’, an energy display that communicates live energy and environmental data with building users. Launched in the Business School in 2013, Environment-Live engages users by creating links between energy performance and action. Our continued investment into renewable technologies and building efficiency improvements is essential if we are to meet our 50% emissions reduction target by 2020 and provide for our future energy needs.
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100%
Green energy sources
energy management 18
powering our non-resident estate
19
Electricity Consumption
energy management
0%
-6.2%
achieved percentage reduction
CaseStudy:
Data Centre Consolidation Phase 2
-35% target
-50% target -50% 15-16
12-13
5-6
20-21
The next phase of our data centre project, building on the work completed in Phase 1, is nearing completion. Part of a wider project to consolidate 20 server rooms to 3 by 2014, the new data centre utilises highly efficient ambient air and water chillers and is estimated to reduce the University’s carbon footprint by 3% annually. The work will enable us to further consolidate the inefficient existing provision in John Dalton building, working towards a strategy to provide MMU with a state of the art data centre environment.
Year
£417,000 invested 591 annual tonnes carbon savings
Gas Consumption 0%
£113,600 annual saving £417,817 lifetime saving 5534 CO2 tonnes saving over lifetime of investment
-25.1%
percentage reduction
3% Reduction
achieved
-35% target
-50% target -50% 12-13
5-6
15-16
CO2
University’s annual carbon footprint through the Data Centre project
20-21
Year
energy management 20
21
Sustainable and Ethical Procurement
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ouraims Invest in goods and services that are best value, giving regard to economic, social, ethical and environmental impact over their lifetime.
ble na i a ork st f Su tre o mew e en Fra f th 1 o ent C xible l e ! e m Lev cure ce Fl ieved o n h r e c l P da cel Ex ndar Sta
ourprogress We’ve continued to implement and deliver activities in line with MMU’s ethical and sustainable procurement policies including the MMU Fairtrade Policy, Ethical Investment Policy and Sustainable Food Statement. Our Key decision makers for procurement have completed training in sustainable procurement principles and all of the University’s commodity categories have been assessed for Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability risks. As a result we’ve developed a comprehensive supplier engagement programme.
Our Policies
We’ve retained our Fairtrade Certification and our updated Fairtrade Policy, which commits to increase Fairtrade education and student engagement.
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Our Sustainable Food Policy Statement has been reviewed and additional commitments including attaining Food for Life certification, provision for food recycling and a reduction in the supply of disposable food packaging in catering outlets has been agreed. The Ethical Investment Policy has been reviewed at the Financial and Human Resources Committee to ensure strategic fit, and that the University has been operating a morally responsible approach to the commitments around the environment, governance and society.
sustainable and ethical procurement 22
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sustainable buildings
ouraims
Prioritise sustainable design during the development and refurbishment of the University Estate to have the lowest achievable environmental impact, both in construction and throughout occupation.
ourprogress The University has continued to progress its Campus Consolidation Programme to create a more sustainable estate with a reduced environmental impact. Lowest impact
The new Benzie Building, housing the Manchester School of Art, opened in September 2013. Birley Campus development will open in September 2014 along with a new Students’ Union Building. All of our new developments will meet our energy performance and BREEAM targets.
Provide a healthy working environment to support and promote the aims of the Health and Wellbeing Policy.
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sustainable buildings 24
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Towards Sustainable Campuses 3 Zero’s: Carbon, Waste and Water The delivery of MMU’s consolidation of seven campuses to two is nearing completion. Our new buildings support a number of key environmental technologies and are designed to minimise environmental impacts.
Birley Campus Our new community campus at Birley Fields will be home to 1200 students in a BREEAM Outstanding rated halls of residence. Birley Academic Building will house the Faculties of Education and Health, Psychology and Social Care as well as high quality facilities for community use.
Academic Building • • • •
Size of academic building: 20,500m² Completion date: September 2014 Forecast Energy Performance Rating: Target ‘B’ Forecast BREEAM Rating: Excellent
Key environmental technologies and features: • Ground source local cooling and heating provided by borehole water abstraction • Energy efficient Independent District Heating Scheme • Building designed to retrofit photovoltaic arrays • Maximum use of natural daylight and extensive use of LED lighting • A borehole potable water system for drinking water • Rainwater harvesting and water collection recycling systems • Electric vehicle charging points in the multi-storey car park • Creation of a wetland area, orchard, meadow and healthy herb garden to increase biodiversity
Student Residence Townhouses • • • •
Size of residences: 1,171 bedrooms Completion date: 2014 Forecast Energy Performance Rating: Target ‘A’ Forecast BREEAM Rating: Outstanding
Key environmental technologies and features: • Timber framed construction with high thermal performance • Maximum use of natural daylight, lighting controls and LED lighting • Heating and hot water supplied from local district heating • Energy performance monitors in each shared kitchen • Prototype technologies fitted to the Innovation Block
sustainable buildings Business School and Student Hub The University’s new Business School and Student Hub has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating, was recognised as being among Europe’s best buildings by the Royal Institute of British Architects and won the Prime Minister’s Award for Better Public Buildings. The iconic building was named among four outstanding examples of architecture in the North West and has been nominated for a national RIBA award in the ‘campus’ category.
Benzie Building Students and staff at the Faculty of Art and Design now have access to the Benzie Building, which boasts an impressive vertical gallery, workshops, a roof garden and hybrid studio areas offering flexible space, to accommodate the needs of 21st century arts education. • • • •
Size of Building: 7500m² Completed Date: March 2013 Energy Performance Rating: Target ‘B’ BREEAM Rating: Excellent
Key environmental technologies and features • Evaporative Cooling Systems use up to 80% less energy. • Rainwater Harvesting Systems. • Grey Water Systems to reduce water extraction from aquifers, energy use, and chemical pollution from treatment
Students’ Union Building • • • •
Size of building: 4385 m2 Completion date: September 2014 Forecast Energy Performance Rating: Target B Forecast BREEAM Rating: Very Good
Key environmental technologies and features: • Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) ventilation driven by air sources heat pumps. • Hot water supplemented by solar panels. • LED lighting
sustainable buildings 26
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travel plan management
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ouraims Minimise the impact of staff and student travel and encourage the use of efficient modes of transport that minimise environmental impact, reduce congestion and air pollution.
ourprogress Over the year we hosted an Annual Cycle Event, provided free bicycle hire and training for staff and students, provided financial incentives for public transport and cycle loans and supported a number of regional projects such as ‘Velocity’ and ‘Oxford Road Bus Priority Scheme’. We’re going through a period of change where our campus consolidation project nears completion, and we are finding that staff and students are making new and different commuting journeys. There is an opportunity to influence travel behaviours, particularly through the promotion of sustainable travel as a real alternative to car use. For business travel, staff members are using alternative modes of transport to cars. During 2012-13, business car mileage per employee reduced by 3% on the previous year.
2013 Staff Survey
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89%
MMU employees are aware of sustainable travel incentives
3%
reduction business car mileage
travel plan management 28
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travel plan management
Tram 4%
Motorcycle 1% Walk 9% Bike 6% Car as passenger 3%
Staff Commuter Journey
travelled by mode of transport
Car as driver (single occupant) 44%
Bus 15% Train 18%
Staff commuter by single occupancy and sustainable travel modes
casestudy
MMU Hosted Annual Cycle Event MMU hosted the Annual Cycle Event, primarily for staff from Manchester Corridor Sustainable Transport Group in June 2013. Designed to encourage staff at partner organisations to ‘Give Cycling A Go’, the event encouraged some 400 novice and experienced staff cyclists to cycle into work by joining a guided cycle route. Throughout the day, people came to find out more about cycling and incentives, maintenance and training, security tagging and to have their bikes ‘health checked’. A free cycle hire scheme persuaded novice cyclists to try coming into work by bike. Since the event, the Manchester Corridor Sustainable Transport Group have continued to loan bikes for free to staff who are considering cycling to work.
44%
“I have always considered cycling to work but hadn’t had the opportunity to do so. The cycle hire scheme allowed me to trial the route to see if cycling was for me. I thought it was great that the scheme was offered for free, and the quality of the bike was excellent. I felt the health benefits and it cut my commute time in half.”
30% Single Occupancy Vehicle
Dr Edward Wastnidge
Sustainable Transport Modes
56% 2013
70%
*Source: MMU Staff Travel Survey 2013 of 1961 respondents (for both data sets)
2018/19 target
FREE Cycle Hire
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ouraims “
Ensure a robust approach is taken through the waste hierarchy:
waste management
ourprogress We have reached our reuse and recycling target of 40% one year earlier than expected, that’s an increase of 9.5% on the previous year. Through our main waste contract, we’ve ensured that 98.6% of general waste from internal recycling hubs is treated to produce energy. This process is set to continue and will help us reach our ‘diversion from landfill’ targets. At our Cheshire Campus, the introduction of food recycling in dining areas was trialled over the course of the year. Following the success of this trial, we intend to extend the provision throughout the University.
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Prevent
2012-13
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Food recycling in dining area trialled at Cheshire Campus
40% Reuse and recycling rate
waste management 32
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waste management
zerowaste case study
Reuse and Recycling (excluding capital construction and refurbishment projects) measured as percentage of wastes reused or recycled Diversion from landfill (excluding capital construction and refurbishment projects) measured as a percentage of wastes diverted from landfill
95%
95%
90%
85% 85%
80%
60%
Diversion from landfill (including capital construction and refurbishment projects) measured as a percentage of wastes diverted from landfill 13-14
20-21
Year
Reuse & recyling rates
85% target
60% target achieved
15-16
The project, run in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, Manchester City Council and the University of Manchester provides a route for students in halls and private residences to reuse and recycle their unwanted clothing, books, CDs, small electrical items, dry food and crockery before they move out. This year, the project gave staff the opportunity to donate their unwanted items as well, which helped increase the visibility of the campaign, and meant that MMU alone collected 15.7 tonnes of items, which were donated to the British Heart Foundation to raise £47,500! Successfully working in collaboration with the City Council and the University of Manchester meant that 75.8 tonnes were donated or recycled collectively in 2012-13, and has led to the integration of ‘Zero Waste’ into the Council’s Waste Strategy.’
39.9% 40%
Percentage Reuse recycling rate
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Give it, don’t bin it! Zero Waste was born following student demand for the University to do more about reducing our environmental impact and has gone from strength to strength. Over 80 tonnes of unwanted items have been donated to charity or recycled since the campaign began in 2008.
40%
85%
90%
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performancetargets
target
15.7 tonnes donated
Raised £47,500
British Heart Foundation
15-16
0% 7-8
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12-13 13-14
Year
16-17
20-21
waste management 35
water management
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ourprogress
ouraims
Our overall water consumption has reduced by 5.4% on the previous year, and by 11.1% since the 2010-11 baseline. Reductions in water consumption are set to continue as more of our estate incorporates designs and technologies for water efficiency.
Reduce water consumption through practical water conservation measures and reduce cost through the increased use of alternative water sources.
Birley Fields campus integrates borehole water supply, rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling systems that will help reduce overall water consumption. The Business School utilises water saving devices, such as efficient taps and dual flush toilets that are filled by water from the ground, constituting a 60-70% reduction of mains water consumption. A pilot scheme is underway in Booth Hall student accommodation blocks to install water efficient showerheads that will deliver significant savings in water consumption and in energy required to heat the water.
2012-13
Increase the deployment of sustainable drainage measures to reduce surface water run-off and flood risk.
5.5% Intergrated rainwater harvesting
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Water consumption reduction
Water Reduction 0%
-11.1% achieved
Percentage water reduction
water management 36
-25% target
-25% 5-6
Year
12-13
15-16
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biodiversity and growing systems
ouraims
.
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Protect and enhance biodiversity across the University and promote its benefits for students, staff, visitors and local communities
ourprogress This policy area has been reviewed to include the three key aspects of urban biodiversity conservation: protection, use by people and interconnections between sites and will be reported on in 2013/14 Our students have established the Manchester Metropolitan Urban Gardening Society (MMUGS) and transformed a lifeless courtyard into a thriving garden space at our John Dalton courtyard which helped MMU become the Greenest University 2013.
casestudy
MMU Urban Garden Society
MMUGS
The Manchester Metropolitan Urban Gardening Society (MMUGS) project was initiated by a group of students’ intent on making use of existing space at MMU to improve practical knowledge of gardening, the wellbeing of both people and the environment, and to highlight to importance of gardening as a way to alleviate problems such as future food supply. In early 2012, MMUGS received permission and funding to begin work on the outside space at the John Dalton Building. The new garden, completed in the summer of 2012, has raised beds, vegetable plots, fruit bearing trees and wild flowers, creating a tranquil yet functional space. Fruit trees and berries will be a valuable source of food to birds and insects, and wild flowers will attract bees and butterflies.
biodiversity and growing systems 38
In the longer term, MMUGS will use the garden as a space for educational, research and networking experiences to help promote and educate others about the importance of biodiversity in urban green spaces.
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@mmuenvironment w: mmu.ac.uk/environment e: environment@mmu.ac.uk
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