Environment News
October 2012 Issue
+ Introducing the Environment Newsletter
In this issue:
For environmental news at the University of St Andrews, looking at green campus projects, community initiatives, sustainability governance and how to get involved.
Page 2 In Focus: Green Week Report
Page 3 Community: Transition – New project workers and how to get involved
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+ Did you know? St Andrews is aiming to be carbon neutral for energy consumption by 2016. St Andrews currently recycles 69% of its waste, up from 65% last year, keep up the good work!
Recent and Upcoming Events
In Focus: Top Tips for saving energy This newsletter aims to give staff the latest
Switch off computers and
environmental news at the University and
monitors at night and over the
to involve staff in the work of the new
weekend (whenever possible). A
Environmental Facilitators (see page 2).
single PC operating continuously
This month’s top tips are:
uses about £60 of electricity
Use recycled envelopes for
annually. Turning off the PC and monitor at night/weekends will
internal mail
Use the Steinbeis range of
reduce the bill to £15 annually. If
recycled paper from Office
every member of staff at the
Depot. It’s cheaper and more
University did this we would save
environmentally friendly.
around £54,000 per year (based on an estimate of 1,200 staff computers).
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We have a new battery recycling facility available for all schools/units. The 5 litre tubs shown in the photo on the left take portable AA (and similar) batteries and can be uplifted once full. Please contact your environmental facilitator or Sarah on sed32@st-andrews.ac.uk to request one.
In Focus: Green Week Report week. The Environment Team held a
Called Reclaim Energy,
Fairtrade Bake Sale and invited Fife
hosted by OneWorld Society
Diet to come along with their
and People and Planet which
smoothie bike to promote local and
aimed to address the issues
less energy intensive food (pictured
of unconventional fuels such
left). Other events included a bread
as Tar Sands, fracking and
making workshop by OneWorld
artci drilling. These
Society, film screenings by
unconventional fuels are the
Greenpece, Oxfam and Animal
new challenge to
Welfare Society, Transition Open
environmentalists.
Forum, Bike Doctor sessions Green Week 2012 was held from
organised by a new student group
Stay tuned for Green Week
1st to 7th October and saw multiple
hoping to set up a bike pool scheme
2013!
events being held during the
and the week culminated in a fantastic conference type event
Do you want to become an Environmental Facilitator?
your line manager. They will need to
The University is looking to recruit at
support you taking part in the
least one Environmental Facilitator
project. Next, let CAPOD know that
per unit or school across St Andrews.
you wish to volunteer. Email
If you are interested in becoming an
capod@st-andrews.ac.uk to register
Environmental Facilitator, first
your interest and find out when you
discuss your likely application with
can next sign up for courses.
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+ Community: New Transition Project Workers The team at Transition University of St Andrews has recently introduced five new project workers who will each work part time on one of the individual projects. These projects are Carbon Conversations, Food and Water Waste, Food Growing, LETS (Local Exchange Trading System) and Communications. The project workers will work alongside the Project
Coordinator and the University student and staff based steering group over the coming year. This year Transition has been jointly funded by CCF (Climate Challenge Fund) alongside St Andrews Community Group StAndEn, the St Andrews Energy Network. Hopefully this will link both town and gown communities and help us work towards achieving Transition status as a town, not just as a University.
+
How to get involved with Transition
+Did you know?
There are many ways for you to get involved with the Transition movement at the University. They hold open forums on the 1st Tuesday
In 2011/2012, Transition reduced the University’s carbon footprint by 635 tonnes of carbon.
of each month where people can come along and share their thoughts and ideas. To get involved in any of the projects or simply to find out more please email transition@st-andrews.ac.uk
Transition also diverted 2.16 tonnes of waste from landfill through StAndReUse.
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There are also work sessions in the Community Garden from 2pm – 4pm on Wednesday afternoons.
+Recent & Upcoming Events: Dune Action Day Some of the Environmental Facilitators came along to a Dune Action Day on West Sands, run by Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT).We spent an hour in the sunshine overlooking the bay removing invasive species and helping to stabilise the dunes. This session accounted for one strand of the Community Investment strand of the passport; an environmental volunteering activity.The next Dune Action Day is on 30th October 2012; please feel free to come along to help out from 12-1pm. Whether you are an Environmental Facilitator or not!
SGEG Volunteering Day On 13th October the Scottish Golf Environment Group are
running a volunteer day from 10am – 4pm to help protect, manage and maintain the SSSI coastline near the Fairmont Hotel. For more info contact lynn.jopling@sgeg.org.uk
+ Useful links
Thank you for reading
Policy
Please do not print. 350 million trees are cut down every year for office paper.
Sustainable Development Policy and Strategy 2012-2022: http://www.standrews.ac.uk/environment/SDStrategy/ NEW – Energy Strategy Publication: http://www.standrews.ac.uk/environment/Resources/
Resources Recycling Procedures: http://www.standrews.ac.uk/staff/tech/estates/waste/Recyclin g/#d.en.24106
Environment Team Blog: http://environmentsta.wordpress.com/ This newsletter was produced by the Environment Team.
Carsharing: http://gocarshare.com/standrews
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/environment www.facebook.com/EnvironmentStA
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