Staff and students all have a role to play in creating an eco-friendly College and adopting more sustainable lifestyles.
With around 30,000 students and 2,000 staff the College’s impact on the environment cannot be ignored. This is why the College has invested £1 million in green issues and made sustainability a key priority.
Carbon emissions
Over next 5 years we aim to reduce the College’s carbon footprint by 20%. To do this we are working closely with the Carbon Trust and using:
Biomass boiler
Rainwater harvesting
Solar thermal panels
Proximity sensors – lights only come on when someone enters the room
Low energy lighting
Voltage optimisation – decreased electrical supply to around 220V
More sophisticated heating and ventilation control systems
Waste
Over the last 12 months the College has reduced its waste by 5%. And we are committed to reducing waste by 50% over the next 5 years.
We currently recycle 71% of office waste and are increasingly streaming and segregating faculty waste (metal, wood etc) for recycling.
We have increased use of recycled paper by 50% and decreased printing and photocopying by around 7 million copies per year.
We also have a scheme to collect food waste.
Fair Trade
The College’s refectories, coffee shops and training restaurants all promote Fair Trade and source ingredients and products locally.
Travel
Staff and students are encouraged to use alternative forms of transport when travelling to and from centres. There has been investment in secure bike lockers and locks, and the bike users’ group allows cyclists to share information and ideas. It also means cyclists have a collective voice to improve facilities.
Other initiatives being put into place include: car-sharing scheme; alternative fuel transport; pool cars; discounts on buses.
Procurement
Factors considered when selecting suppliers include:
- Where materials are sourced
- What materials are used to make goods
- Eco-friendliness
South Bristol Skills Academy
Last year South Bristol Skills Academy won an Environmental Award from Bristol Civic Society. The building was designed for efficient use of energy, with minimum waste. This includes:
- 1,127,000 litres of rainwater harvested
- 530 tonnes of CO2 saved with a biomass boiler
- 25kw of heat generated using solar panels
We are proud of our eco-credentials, but there is always more work to be done.