Environmental
Sustainability
Update Report 2013/2014
Rochelle Martin, a second year student
from Business and Law
is one of only 23 participants from around the globe who travelled to Brazil’s rainforest in July to attend the Amazon Summer School on Sustainability, a globally-renowned programme. She was the only UK student selected to attend the programme following a world-wide application process.Student success
through sustainability
Northumbrian Water has announced a
partnership with the University to fund a
sustainability research programme.
The £60,000 programme will enable a PhD student to carry out research on how
organisations can work in partnership to leave a lasting positive impact on the community and environment. This research will develop the practice of embedding sustainability further by exploring best practice and how it can be entrenched fully throughout an organisation’s structure. It will focus on leadership and management development, through to the role of individuals and relationships with stakeholders.
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
Welcome
I am pleased to introduce our very
first Environmental Sustainability
Update Report which shows how
the University is addressing key
sustainability issues.
The University recognises the positive impacts of good environmental sustainability in the areas of carbon, waste and travel management, and the University will continue to set targets for improvement in these areas. However, sustainability should inform our teaching, research and learning, as well as the way in which the University goes about its business operations of campus management and community engagement. This publication shows successes in overall sustainability, with our students being recognised as skilled participants in addressing sustainability for both the University and an external audience.
Our plan is to make significant improvements in environmental sustainability, supporting the Corporate Strategy 2013-2018. The Sustainability Management Group, represents all areas of the University, and will play a key part, as will the continued efforts of our staff and students in helping Northumbria become a more sustainable
university. Chris Reilly
Chief Operating Officer with executive responsibility for environmental sustainability.
The University has an annual
water bill of around £430,000
and consumes 154,000m³ of
water - 14,000m³ of which
is rainwater. The use of this
water has a carbon footprint
that is equivalent to travelling
nearly 550,000 miles by train.
After 2 years of participation and success
for both Faculties and Services achieving
bronze awards under the Green Impact
project, the University was delighted that
two areas were presented with a silver
award last year.
On the back of this success: Engineering and Environment and Campus Services are now aiming for the gold award by the end of 2014. Green Impact is an environmental improvement project that the University delivers in partnership with the National Union of Students.
For more information on this please visit: www.greenimpact.org.uk
Green Impact
The University was recently awarded bronze accreditation status for its efforts
in travel planning through Go Smarter.
All staff were surveyed on how they travelled to the University to determine a detailed understanding of all forms of travel, ensuring that Go Smarter can tailor sustainable travel solutions for staff. Benefits for staff and students include free weekly cycle mechanics on campus, cycle riding training, and cycle maintenance classes. The University are on track to be awarded silver accreditation in 2014 and will make an application for gold accreditation in early 2015.
Awards
Green League
In the 2013 People and Planet
Green League the University climbed
16 places to 85th seeing a rise up the
table for the 3rd consecutive year .
The league is the only comprehensive and independent league table of UK universities ranked by environmental and ethical performance. Northumbria scores particularly well in areas such as staff and student engagement and waste management.
League Year Rank
2011 107
2012 101
2013 85
For more information on this please visit:
peopleandplanet.org/greenleague
The Combined Heat
and Power Unit in Sport
Central generates
electricity and heat in
a less carbon intensive
manner than systems
that use electricity
from the National Grid;
reducing annual CO₂
emissions by 300,000 kg.
300,000 kg of CO₂
emissions is the
equivalent to the average
annual greenhouse gas
emissions from 63 cars.
Source: Carbon Footprint 360
The University spends
£3.1 million on electricity
annually which produces
13,653 tonnes CO₂.
This is equivalent to
flying 73,000,000 miles
by aeroplane.
Green Travel
PERFORMANCE
Northumbria University is once again partnering in an electrical vehicle
trial until July 2015.
The Switch EV Trial run by Future Transport Systems aims to assess the performance of the electric vehicle via telematics equipment attached to the car, as well as analysing the experience of the vehicle from University staff that drive it, via an online questionnaire.
For more information on this please visit: switchev.co.uk
Trial vehicle at CCE charging point
In partnership with Recyke Y’Bike - providing affordable, roadworthy sustainable transport
Student cycle hire
Student cycle hire was launched in September 2014
Aimed at students who wish to travel sustainably but do not want to own a bicycle or bring their own bicylce to the University. The scheme is ran in partnership with local charity Recyke y’bike.
For more information on this charity please visit:
recyke-y-bike.org
Food standards
The University ensures that our Friday food menu includes fish which
is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified.
The MSC has developed standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability. Both standards meet the world’s toughest best practice guidelines and are helping to transform global seafood markets.
For more information on this please visit: mscaccredited.com
Waste
Northumbria University has
achieved the status of being
landfill free.
This has been achieved by
successfully implementing its
Waste Management Policy as well
as investing in improved recycling
facilities across campus in the
newly refurbished classrooms.
Over the last 5 years, Northumbria
University has worked closely with
O’Brien Waste Recycling Solutions
to ensure that all of the waste
produced onsite is recycled,
re-used or turned into energy.
Since the start of 2014 the University has sent waste cooking oil from its catering outlets to Bidvest 3663 where it is recycled by a specialist waste-to-energy company into environmentally friendly bio-diesel. The diesel is then used sustainably to fuel the vehicle fleet that carries out food deliveries to the University and other customers. So far 2,089 litres of waste cooking oil has been collected from Northumbria University – resulting in a carbon emission saving of 4,740 kg.
For more information please visit:
3663.co.uk/waste-oil-recycling
Recycling of
cooking oil
The University has reduced
its carbon emissions by 1,000
kg annually, by replacing its
catering vending machines
with the most environmentally
efficient machines in the world.
Source: MAAS
100% of the
University’s general
waste is re-used,
recycled or used to
create energy.
Carbon and Energy
Management
Investment in new technologies such
as combined heat and power, solar
hot water and photovoltaics have
seen a reduction in annual carbon
emissions.
With continued expansion of the estate and increased demand on building opening hours it is necessary to review the University’s current Carbon Management Plan (published in 2010) to reflect the revised estate and make investments in carbon reduction technologies. The University is working with specialist carbon reduction advisers RICARDO AEA to develop a strategic plan to reduce current carbon emissions
over the next 5-10 year period.
By using a new energy monitoring software system the University is on track to realise its most accurate energy-based carbon footprint in 2014/15, per building. Real time analysis of data over a 24 hour period, set against determined benchmarks, now allows for identifying wasted energy and supports preventing this from happening again. The Real Time Online dashboard showing consumption and carbon emissions will be available to staff and students by November 2014 for the majority of buildings.
(see draft illustration below)
Sustainability
Team
The University’s sustainability
team has increased to three
members of staff, which now
includes:
Tim Hall
Sustainability Manager
Overall responsibility for environmental sustainability 0191 243 7068
Chris Stewart
Energy Adviser
Responsible for energy monitoring and profiling 0191 243 7339
Lorna Johnson
Sustainability Assistant
Responsible for Eco Campus environmental management system 0191 227 4396
Thanks from our local
branch of a National charity
The University more than doubled the number of halls
of residence involved in recycling unwanted goods;
students were encouraged to donate unwanted goods
to the British Heart Foundation.
In 2013 there were 128 bags of unwanted items donated by students which generated £2,560 for the charity. This year the University improved upon this by collecting 277 bags across the halls of residencies which will generate an even greater income for the charity by being sold in their local shops.
“We’ve been delighted with the response from Northumbria University students and their overwhelming support. Each BHF shop needs to receive 400 bags of unwanted items a week and our shops in the North East have been helped in achieving this thanks to generous donations from the students and staff of Northumbria University.”
PERFORMANCE
Managing
Environmental Impacts
EcoCampus is a national Environmental Management System and award
scheme for the higher and further education sectors, enabling universities
and colleges to identify, evaluate, manage and improve their sustainability
and environmental practices.
The benefits of this system include
• Help achieve cost savings and reduce impacts with direct efficiencies in energy, water, waste, purchasing and transport • Manage environmental risk and ensure
legal compliance
• Full accreditation can lead to an ISO standard for environmental management
Northumbria joined EcoCampus in
September 2014 and is in the planning stages of phase one and expected to achieve a
bronze award by May 2014.
Travel
Northumbria University is the largest University in the
North East of England and is made up of up to 3,000
members of staff and 35,000 students, across a wide
geographical area.
Despite the varying demands on travel needs, only 24% of staff and 10% of students drive to the City Campus to work and study.
The majority of staff and students already travel sustainably to City Campus with 11% of staff and 48% of students walking and 51% of staff and 37% of students travelling via public transport. The University will carry out staff and student travel surveys and from this will produce an updated summary of travel by the end of 2014.
Fairtrade is about better prices,
decent working conditions, local
sustainability, and fair terms of
trade for farmers and workers in the
developing world.
Some schemes aim to ‘protect the environment’ or ‘enable companies to trace their coffee’, Fairtrade’s focus is to support farmers and workers to improve the quality of their lives and take more control over their futures.
During Fairtrade Fortnight 2014 the University highlighted that over the last 10 years the price of bananas has halved whilst production costs have almost doubled, meaning for many farmers and growers they are not receiving a fair deal. Over 300 staff and students signed a petition asking the UK Government to make a stand, address the unsustainable supermarket price war and protect those farmers and workers who grow the UK’s favourite fruit.
Source: Fairtrade Foundation
The University produces 7,064 tonnes of CO₂ annually from
its gas usage and this costs £1.1 million. It would take 1,766
years to produce the same amount of CO₂ if this gas was
used to heat the average bungalow.
Source: Rutland County CouncilLED lighting has been
fitted into the majority
of Stephenson Halls of
Residence, as well as various
teaching areas, which
will result in an estimated
100,000 kg per year saving in
CO₂ emissions.
This is the same amount
as the emissions produced
from using 233 barrels of oil.
Source: Carbon Footprint 360 For more information on this please visit: ecocampus.co.uk
To City Campus
%
Staff Target Staff Result Student Target Including Coach Lane
Student Result 2012/13 2012/13 2012/13 2012/13 Car Driver 26 24 23 10 Car Passenger 6 4 5 1 Motorcycle 1 1 1 0 Walking 10 11 25 48 Cyclist 8 9 6 4 Public Transport 49 51 40 37
Studying Success within Campus
Services Internship Programme
Lorna Johnson has recently joined
Campus Services as Sustainability
Assistant where she will be working
within the Health, Safety and
Sustainability team.
Lorna has recently graduated from Northumbria University’s Geography and Environmental Management course with a 2:1 BSc honors degree.
The main focus of the post is to help the University achieve bronze status from the EcoCampus accreditation scheme and to be actively engaging students and staff in improving their own environmental performance.
The topics and modules covered within the course have enabled Lorna and other recent graduates to be well equipped to enter a role within the sustainability sector.
Engineering and
Environment
Sustainability is a core theme
within all courses offered by the
Geography Department.
The Faculty of Engineering and Environment offer a range of courses incorporating various aspects of sustainable development and environmental awareness; • A new Masters in Environmental
Health has run from September 2014 - following on from the undergraduate course that Northumbria University currently offers
• The University offers a Health, Safety and Environment Masters equipping students with the skills they need to apply the cross-over between these sectors to organisations
• September 2014 has seen a new Environmental Engagement module offered to students on several undergraduate programmes. The module will teach students skills that are directly related to environmentally based job roles e.g. auditing skills, communicating sustainability, project delivery and skills that are found on the Institute of Environmental Management and Assesment (IEMA) skills map.
• Students throughout the Geography department are given the opportunity to choose modules that are IEMA and Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) accredited throughout the second and third year of their degree course; meaning that students can achieve associated membership with the relevant body without having to take the initial accreditation exam.
Newcastle Business School has a
global reputation for delivering some
of the best business management
education in the UK, offering
courses that incorporate all aspects
of business management and best
practice.
• The Business Ethics module is taken by all 3rd year students in which contemporary business ethics, corporate responsibility and sustainability are taught
• From September 2014, the new MBA programme includes a core module
on Globally Responsible Leadership. Sustainability is integrated throughout all of the other core modules
• Dr Jenny Davidson is Senior Lecturer of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at the Business School and has spoken about the importance of the teaching delivered by the Faculty now and in the near future;
“Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility is a contemporary management issue and by integrating it into our programmes, we are essentially reflecting business today”
Newcastle Business School
Lorna Johnson pictured here on her graduation day with her Manager Lesley Salkeld (Head of Health, Safety & Sustainability)
The latest addition to the
University’s vehicle fleet has
no tail pipe emissions and is
fully electric; reducing CO₂
emissions by 1,100kg per year.
This is equivalent to the
emissions given off by driving
2,619 miles.
Source: Carbon Footprint 360
ENGAGEMENT AND STUDYING
Increasing effective space
utilisation will result in a
reduction of an estimated
50,000 kg of CO₂ emissions
in the next 12 months.
This saving would be
equivalent to the energy
saved from turning off a 28
inch TV for over 650,000
hours.
Source: GE VisualisationEnvironmental Volunteering
Eco NSU is the Student Unions’
programme of environmental
volunteering and was launched in
March 2012.
Devised by a volunteer student leadership committee, successful projects include regular Beach Cleans at Tynemouth Longsands, an on-going partnership with the Ouseburn Farm, the establishment of a ‘Food Co-op’ and the collection of 98kg of Food from Halls of Residences and Faculties for the Newcastle East Food Bank.
For the first time in 2014, Eco NSU held a dedicated week of volunteering, tied to the National People and Planet Go Green Week which saw 170 students involved, dedicating over 138 hours of volunteering time.
The Student Union has also attained Green Impact Excellence Award this year from the National Union of Students (NUS), one of only 10 Students’ Unions in the country to reach this standard.
Student Switch Off
The Student Switch Off programme
is a not-for-profit campaign run in
partnership with the National Union
of Students that encourages students
living in University halls of residence
to save energy and recycle their
waste.
Students are set manageable challenges that vary throughout the year and are rewarded for participating. The 2014/15 academic year will see this programme into its third year, and will build upon the achievements seen by engaging students during 2013/2014;
Key Statistics
• 349 students participated in energy saving and recycling competitions • 8 students trained as Student Switch Off
Ambassadors
• 249 students took part in the Climate Change Quiz
• 180 students joined the ‘Northumbria University Student Switch Off’ Facebook page
For more information please visit:
facebook.com/NorthumbriaSSO
or like the Facebook page
Green Impact is an environmental
accreditation and awards scheme
run in partnership with the National
Union of Students through which
staff and students are engaged in
environmental improvements across
the University.
Since 2011/2012; • 14 bronze awards • 2 silver awards
• 30 students have been trained as auditors • 40 staff have directly engaged with
the project
For more information please visit:
greenimpact.org.uk/northumbria
Green Impact
ENGAGEMENT AND STUDYING
PRACTICAL SUSTAINABILITY
The amount of journeys
made to the City Campus
each year has been
reduced by 1,000 as a
result of rationalising the
amount of catering and
retail outlet deliveries.
2014 has welcomed the arrival of a newly created allotment behind Ellison Terrace which is made up of two large beds growing vegetables and herbs, as well as a garden shed and a new outdoor seating area.
The allotment was created by Eco NSU; to become involved in the maintenance of Ellison allotment or to find out about any of the other activities done by Eco NSU, please visit:
mynsu.northumbria.ac.uk/ studentactivities/EcoNSU/
