STAFFORDSHIRE University is building on its success in a national Higher Education (HE) Green League by pushing ahead with plans to make its campuses more sustainable.
Campaigns such as Sustain Staffs and 5 Greens a Day have helped the University to 40th place in the People and Planet Green League 2011, published in The Guardian, which ranks 138 UK Universities on their environmental policies and performance.
Neil Scott, Environmental Portfolio Holder and Finance Director, said: “Environmental sustainability is one of Staffordshire University’s core values and under the campaign banner of Sustain Staffs, our objective has been to build a more sustainable University and reduce our environmental impact by giving advice and guidance and developing initiatives to encourage the most effective use of natural resources.
“Over the past 12 months, we have invested heavily in energy efficient technologies to meet our commitment to the ‘10:10 Cutting Carbon 10% at a Time’ movement – an activity that will produce savings of around £200,000 in utility bills and an expected 12.2% reduction in carbon emissions.”
Improving recycling schemes, encouraging cycling to work, car sharing, and introducing energy saving technology are just some of the ways that have helped Staffordshire University to establish itself as the 3rd greenest HE institution in the West Midlands.
The University is set to further improve its sustainability with the new £30million Science and Technology Centre building, currently under construction in Stoke-on-Trent’s University Quarter, which is being built to BREEAM ‘excellent’ standards. And this summer there are plans to trial a new solar heating system at Stafford Court halls of residence – potentially saving 28,300 kilowatt hours and 15.4 tonnes of CO2 annually.
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