RGU Green Times September 2012

issue 3 • SEPTEMBER 2012

RGU GREEN TIMES Seven go to Nigg The University’s Waste Management Group recently spent a morning at the EIS recycling plant at Nigg.

From the left Craig Donoghue (EIS), Kevin Simpson, Leon Mouat, Judith Logan, Laura Muir, Ian Webster, Keith Fraser and Sara Cameron.

This gave to opportunity to see what happens to all the University’s recycle and skip waste, once it arrives at the EIS plant for processing.

The tour showed how all the waste is split up when it arrives on the site, to give maximum recycling opportunities. This also includes dealing with all the University’s confidential waste.

Below is a picture of the 9 bay sorting line showing the different materials that all sorted out in the lines.

This system ensures that almost all the material is either recycled or used for fuel, with under 5% of all materials going to landfill.

A note about the plant from Craig of EIS: “EIS Waste Services was established in 1989 and is an Aberdeen Based private company with extensive Recycling and Waste Management Facilities just South of Aberdeen. With significant experience gained in servicing the construction, commercial, industrial and retail sectors we have developed a reputation for providing a reliable and competitive service with an emphasis on recycling and landfill diversion.

Since early 2005 we have been further developing our commercial position which allowed us to be one the first companies in Aberdeen to offer a Mixed Recycling Service for collection of mixed Cardboard, Paper, Cans and Plastic.

With WRAP funding a new ‘dirty’ Material Recycling Facility was completed in May 2011. Through our 9 bay sorting line we are recycling over 50% of the materials processed from black bag mixed waste with the residues being delivered to a Waste to Energy facility in Dundee, or Landfill at the Sita Landfill facility in Peterhead.

Materials currently being segregated for recycling include: Hard Plastic; Soft Plastic; Wood; Textiles and Carpets; Food; Metal (ferrous and non-ferrous); Paper; Cardboard; Glass; Mixed Cans; Electrical Cable.

Our site is being developed further with installation of a new semi-automated Dry Mixed Recyclate line and expanded storage facilities due to come on line in Mid-2012.

If anyone has any queries on the University’s waste or recycling procedures, they should contact Bob Cooper:

Watts, and the price per unit of Electricity is 10p, then: 2,500 PC’s running 8 hours per day for 260 days per year (i.e. Monday to Friday) will cost the University a total of £52,000 per annum and generate approximately 280 tonnes of Co2.

Switch Off your PC at Night!

If they were also left on at weekends, the cost jumps to £219,000 per annum.

It must also be noted that RGU has to pay a Carbon Levy based on the amount of Co2 generated which, based on the above figures will add £3360/£10,128 to the above.

Remember also that if you are away from your desk for any length of time, placing your computer in standby will save energy while you are not using the computer.

With soaring energy prices and the environmental impact of energy generation, we are increasingly conscious of the energy implications of all of our activities. IT equipment today ranks as a major source of energy consumption in organisations and RGU is no exception.

Please help reduce our overall energy consumption in the University by switching off your PC or placing it in standby when it is not in use.

IT Services are aware that some staff still have issues with computers taking a long time to boot up in the morning, and are therefore tempted to leave them on overnight to save time in the morning. However, they are actively looking at this and a number of upgrades planned this year will speed up start times. Meantime, the energy savings are still very significant and your help would be appreciated.

We have approximately 2,500 desktop PC’s in use across the University. To keep the sums easy, if we assume that the average power consumption of each PC is 100

Finally, remember to think about any other electronic equipment. Phone chargers, printers, scanners etc switch them all off at night!

GAM Fleet goes Greener

“On Your Bike” Event

Graham Asset Management (GAM), RGU’s designated maintenance contractor, has invested in a fleet of new commercial vehicles. This investment will enhance the corporate brand, reduce the fuel spend, carbon footprint and improve the overall driver experience. A spokesman for GAM said “Graham Group is always striving to be an environmentally friendly partner throughout all its projects and business dealings”.

RGU Transport, in conjunction with Edinburgh Bike Co-operative will be running a one day cycle workshop in October 2012. This will give staff and students the opportunity to take their bikes in to get them checked over, and make sure they are in safe working order.

The new GAM fleet is a selection of Citroen Nemo, Relay and Dispatch vans. Each van comes equipped with a ‘Greenerbox’ tracker connected to the engine management system, which allows vehicle performance to be measured by collecting and analysing fuel consumption and driver behaviour, allowing GAM to

lower CO2 emissions along with fuel bills.

It will also give the opportunity to ask any general questions on cycling to RGU, and more specific cycle related questions, which the experts at Edinburgh Bike should be able to discuss.

More information on the date and location will be given nearer the time.

The CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) is a mandatory scheme aimed at improving energy efficiency and cutting emissions in large public and private sector organisations.

Robert Gordon University have reduced their carbon emissions by 512 tonnes of CO2 or 3 million Kwh from the submission in 2010/11.

To further reduce emissions on campus the University would appreciate your help. The following tips will help to reduce consumption on campus: • • • •

Shut down pc’s at the end of your working day Switch off monitors if away from your desk, whether it is a 10 minute meeting or 1 hour for lunch Switch off printers at the end of your working day Turn off lights if a switch is available

Electric Vehicles The University is currently exploring the benefits of electric vehicles, with the possibility of them being used as pool cars.

This would reduce the need for staff using their own vehicles for University business, and would considerable reduce the CO2 output.

We have already trialled the new Renault Twizzy and Fluence, and will soon be trialling some other new electric models.

woolmanhill energy challenge Flat 25 were crowned the 2011/12 Woolmanhill Energy Champions and received the coveted challenge Quaich along with excellent prizes for their achievement.

Are you ready to take on the 2012/13 challenge? The flat which uses the least amount of Electricity over 2 phases will be crowed champions. An energy monitor along with information such as start and end dates have been placed in all flats.

We wish you the best of luck!

RGU Sustainability Groups If you have an interest in sustainable issues, and are interested in joining any of the sustainability groups (staff and students welcome), then please contact Within the next year, it is hoped to have at least one electric charging point on campus, to encourage the use of electric vehicles.