Environment and Sustainable Development News
Green Sports Club Award 2012/13 Launched
The Environment Team have launched a Green Sports Club Award which will encourage and recognise environmental endeavours in sport. The award will be presented at the SVS awards in April and the winning club will receive £100. Nominations will open during Green Week - 10th to 16th March 2013.
For the criteria please see here: Green Sports Award (Word, 15 KB)
Results of the Staff Environmental Awareness Survey
Results of the survey are now available here: Results of Staff Environmental Awareness Survey (Word, 54 KB)
Numerous staff across the university completed the survey and some lucky respondents were randomly selected to receive a prize for their participation. Ally Malcolm Smith is pictured here receiving here prize from ELT Environmental Facilitator, Kerry Tavakoli.
A New Addition to the Environment Team
This week we welcome a new addition to the Environment Team as Sarah Duley starts her year as the Sustainability Officer.
Sarah is a recent graduate of the Sustainable Development Undergraduate Programme at the University of St Andrews and is all set to carry on the fantastic work that the previous Sustainability Officer, Lucy Arndt, started. Lucy has been a huge asset to the Environment Team and we wish her all the best in the future.
Sarah will be focusing on outreach, engagement and communications with and to staff and students, as well as supporting University sustainability initiatives like Transition. She will also be supporting the other three members of the Environment Team in their exciting projects; Environmental Facilitators Network, recycling schemes, publicising the new energy monitoring system and much more!
To contact Sarah, email her on sed32@st-andrews.ac.uk
You can also see what the Environment Team is up to and get in touch with Sarah via facebook www.facebook.com/EnvironmentStA or follow us on twitter twitter.com/EnvironmentStA
Sustainability Intern 6 month Update 2011
Lucy Arndt, the 2011-2012 Sustainability Intern, has just crossed the 6 month mark with the Environment Team. The position is funded by Santander Bank and provides an opportunity for a graduate of the Sustainable Development Programme to work on practical sustainability projects within the University. To learn more about the work that Lucy has been doing please see the Sustainability Intern 6 month progress report (PDF, 521 KB) The Sustainability Intern position will be available for another two years, with the next position starting in the summer of 2012.
Green Tourism Business Scheme Award
For the third year running, the University’s Agnes Blackadder Hall and David Russell Apartments (DRA) have been awarded Gold Awards from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS). The halls of residence scored 89% and 90% respectively putting both in the running for the GTBS annual Best Performer Award.
These awards recognise campus wide measures that are being taken to decrease environmental impact. Both halls of residence scored particularly high on energy saving through a combination of behaviour change projects such as the Inter-Hall Energy Competition, solar panels at both location to heat water, and the planned large scale projects of a six-turbine wind farm at Kenly and energy centre at the old Guardbridge paper mill.
The Gold GTBS awards were added to the growing list of prestigious environmental awards that the University of St Andrews won in 2011: the 1st Class People and Planet Green League 2011 award, as well as funding from the Climate Challenge Fund for Transition University of St Andrews.
See the full press release here:
Carbon Conversations
Transition University of St Andrews are bringing Carbon Conversations (PDF, 387 KB) to St Andrews.
Carbon Conversations is a unique and inspiring series of 6 group discussions, which the Guardian newspaper recently cited as one of the top solutions to climate change. The sessions involve group activities, knowledge-building, idea-sharing and reflections, where participants will have the opportunity to explore climate change practically and emotionally.
For information on current sessions, please see the Transition Carbon Converstations page.
St Andrews praised for energy saving initiatives
Policy for University Cycle Parking Regulations
The University is introducing a new Policy For University Cycle Parking Regulations (PDF, 74 KB), sanctioned by the Sustainability Policy Group to address the issue of abandoned bicycles on campus and to ensure that the facilities that are currently provided are being used efficiently before new ones are installed. A new set of procedures has been drafted, backed up by a set of Cycle Parking Regulations (PDF, 572 KB) which are in the process of being fixed/displayed at all University Cycle Parking Facilities.
Bike to Work Scheme
Fantastic news.......The University has launched a "bike to work scheme" that enables staff to purchase a bicycle and accessories tax free using a salary sacrifice scheme. This means you can use a bike to get to work, get a bit fitter and save money into the bargain. The scheme uses local independent cycle shops. It is simple to use and the Cyclescheme website explains everything that you need to know about the scheme. Enjoy cycling !
Students Association Sustainability Policy Issued (May 2009)
The Students Association has issued its Student Association Sustainability Policy 2009 (PDF, 39 KB) with the unanimous support of the Students' Representative Council on 14th May 2009. The Policy underpins the efforts being made by the student body to drive forward sustainability issues within the student community and with the support of the University.
St Andrews named Greenest University in Scotland (July 2008)
In this year's Green League for universities in the UK (compiled by People and Planet), St Andrew University has been named the best performing university in Scotland, being awarded a first class degree for its efforts to reduce its environmental impact. Indicators used include recycling rates, ethical investment, and Fairtrade status.
Halls of Residence divert 5 tonnes of waste from landfill (June 2008)
In May 2008, collection points were set up in Halls of Residence across the University, where students could donate to charity good quality items that they no longer wanted. Through this end of term waste reuse scheme, 4.8 tonnes of goods were collected and donated to various good causes locally.
St Andrews' Students Highly Commended for Ethical Investment Campaign (Spring 2008)
In April 2008, the Student Campaign for Ethical Investment received national recognition when it was highly commended by HEEPI (Higher Education - Environmental Performance Improvement) in the Green Gown Awards. The University has recently produced a Sustainable and Socially Responsible Investment Policy.
Green Week Success (March 2008)
From 10th-16th March 2008, the University held its first ever Green Week. Over the course of the week, hundreds of staff, students and members of the public from in and around St Andrews got involved in a wide range of "green" events and activities, ranging from an Ethical Careers Talk and a Sustainable Living Fair, to various gigs.
How green are our future leaders? (March 2008)
Forum for the Future recently completed a Future Leaders Survey examining students' views to sustainability, how these affect their current behaviour, and how they think this will affect their future behaviour and lifestyle choices.
Fairtrade Talk (February 2008)
During Fairtrade Fortnight 2008, Julius Ethang'atha, a Kenyan Fairtrade tea producer gave a presentation on the effects of Fairtrade (PDF, 9,670 KB)on his region of Kenya.
How sustainable are St Andrews' students? (April 2007)
The University recently conducted a Sustainable Behaviour Survey of students, to establish a baseline of student knowledge and behaviour in relation to sustainability issues. The Findings of the Student Sustainability Survey (PDF, 41 KB) show that there is a wide range of behaviours across the student body, with some students keen to always switch off lights and reuse shopping bags, whilst others are less concerned about the environment. There is a tendency for older students to be more environmentally conscious in their behaviour than first years.
The success of the University's Fairtrade Campaign (led by the student's One World Society) is demonstrated by the finding that 80% of students are aware that they can buy Fairtrade goods in the University's shops and cafes.
Another key finding is that the average student takes 4 return flights each year, 38% of which are within the UK, and 62% of which are international.
St Andrews named top Green University in Scotland (Spring 2007)
St Andrews University was recently crowned as a First Class University in People and Planet's first ever Green University League (2007). The University shares top equal status in Scotland with Edinburgh University. This award recognises the University's achievements in putting sustainability in practice across the board, including such diverse criteria as percentages recycled and Fairtrade University status.
Teachers Together Event
Staff and students within the University recently joined together to participate in an event for local secondary school teachers, sharing our experiences of teaching and practicing sustainable development. Further information can be found through the Teachers Together Presentation (PDF, 424 KB).
St Andrews University wins sustainability award (2006)
St Andrews University has recently won the first ever award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development (PDF, 43 KB)in the Times Higher Awards 2006. This award recognises the University's new Sustainable Development Degree, along with the commitment to sustainable practices within the university itself.
Interhall Energy Competition launched (Autumn 2006)
The University has recently launched an Interhall Energy Competition, where halls of residence compete to see who can reduce their energy consumption by the greatest amount. The winning hall will be awarded a grand prize of £1,000, with 2nd and 3rd places winning £500 and £250 respectively.
Bike lockers unveiled (November 2006)
Six new bike lockers (PDF, 52 KB)have been unveiled in Butts Wynd, completing the installation and refurbishment of over 200 bike storage spaces around the university. These have been improved as a result of feedback from the university's Travel Survey, which revealed that staff and students would like more and improved cycle parking facilities.
Sustainability prize winner (2006)
Rebecca Brown was recently revealed as the winner of the Environment Team's Sustainability Competition (PDF, 29 KB), which was launched at the Freshers' Fayre this year. Having correctly answered several questions about the environental impact of the university, Rebecca was awarded with a ShoqBox MP3 player.