MOST SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATION – EDUCATION
JOINT RUNNER UP Stafford College
I
n 2007 Stafford College established a Sustainable Development Group made up of volunteers from all levels in the organisation and embarked on its journey towards sustainability. The Group agrees an annual plan.
PROGRESS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS Following on from replacing old oil fired hearing with new gas boilers, work has been undertaken during the year to identify further energy efficiency schemes and these have been approved for funding by the Salix Public Sector Loan Fund. Boiler insulation has been completed, energy efficient lighting is in progress and a power voltage reduction device is being procured. The schemes will save up to 300,000 kwh of energy and reduce CO2
emissions by up to
emissions by around 130 tonnes. The College now recycles 50% of its 250 tonnes of waste per annum with a consequent saving of £16,000 pa. A second secure waste management area has been created and bin signage significantly improved adopting the widely used Defra WRAP nomenclature. The cardboard baler has been very successful and cardboard tonnage has increased from 4 tonnes pa to 10 tonnes in 7 months, saving an additional £500 disposal costs.
170 tonnes. To date overall electricity consumption has reduced by 1.5% and heating fuels by 12.5% saving 230,000 kwh and reducing CO2
Declaration which requires participant Colleges to promote sustainable development within communities, ensure prudent use of resources, introduce (realistic) environmental standards in building design, develop safe, green and accessible routes to college and incorporate sustainability into the curriculum where possible.
In addition to remote switching off of desktop computers the College has also reviewed its performance against the Government’s ’18 Steps to Green IT’ initiative and now has a number of recommendations to take forward. The College has also made positive steps regarding green travel and has developed a green travel plan as well as doubling the provision of bike storage facilities and replacing the College car with an ‘eco friendly’ alternative reducing emissions by 18%.
There is a culture of proactive re-use, with furniture, cabinets and files regularly finding new homes within the College. The Beauty Department sold 750 surplus towels and 60 chairs to staff and raised £265 which was donated to fund school places for children in Gambia. The College has recently extended recycling to segregate plastic and cans from all reception areas, student zones, vending areas, restaurants and kitchens and the Beauty area. The new bins are accompanied by appropriate WRAP signage. The Estates and Facilities Unit staff continue to lead the way, supporting separation and recycling and carrying out the physical work.
The College has joined 150 others by signing the AOC/EAUC Environmental
32| SUSTAINABLE FM AWARDS 2010
The promotion of sustainability within the student body is considered very important. Led by the student representatives on the Group the College hosted a week of sustainable development activities in 2009. The Students Union identified that being environmentally friendly was the second most important issue to students (after finance), Working with two of the student representatives on the Sustainability Group they set up a week of events culminating in a very well attended talk and Q&A session from MP David Kidney. Each day was themed and guests invited to promote recycling and waste management, sustainable energy human rights and fair-trade products. The film ‘an inconvenient truth’ was screened and a pledge board created which is now displayed in student services and shows a variety of ways that people can reduce their adverse impact on the environment. In 2010 the College celebrated Earth Day. Also on the theme of promoting sustainability we have started to weave the topic into the curriculum in other ways. Students studying on the National Diploma Photography course were commissioned to produce the posters for the College’s 2009-10 energy efficiency campaign. Eight posters have now been selected, printed and displayed. A student tutorial has now been developed and is running in the 2009-10 programme. The tutorial provides a very
basic overview of the topic for all students and it is hoped will raise awareness among both students and staff. Taken alongside the promotion of energy efficiency and recycling we anticipate it will strike a chord around the campus. The College has also developed a foundation degree in Sustainable Communities with Staffordshire University. Such courses are few and far between – ours will commence in September 2010. Twenty staff undertook a sustainable development module created by the Group as part of the Working in Post Compulsory Education (WIPCE) course. A similar number will undertake it next year. The response was very positive. Staff also took part in the events during the Student Union Green Week and on Earth Day. A session on calculating carbon footprints was run in the 2009 staff development week. All these activities are gradually building up knowledge and awareness among staff and helping them to identify where sustainability issues can be incorporated into the curriculum. Awareness is raised through displays, regular reminders to staff to switch of equipment and lights, seasonal posters a staff ‘new years resolution’ scheme and enabling groups of students to visit the recycling facilities as part of their lessons.
CONCLUSION
Stafford College remains firmly committed to the principles of sustainable development and to continuously improving its efforts in this area. The College is particularly pleased to be able to demonstrate student involvement and how the College is developing new curriculum in sustainable development, and also enhanced professional development for staff. At the same time progress has been maintained in energy reduction and waste recycling and new areas such as ICT and green travel have developed. Tackling issues in small incremental steps continues to make a significant difference over time and we look forward to another year of progress.
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