PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY
BUCKS NEW UNIVERSITY WO PROVIDE A GREENER FUTURE
Buckinghamshire New University has achieved the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of measuring, managing and reducing its carbon emissions. However, this is just the start of its ‘green’ activities.
he University achieved a five per cent reduction in its carbon footprint over the three year assessment period, and received the following words of support from Harry Morrison, General Manager of the Carbon Trust Standard: “We congratulate Buckinghamshire New University on its achievement. Earning the Carbon Trust Standard requires strong commitment to making real change and is well within the reach of those with desire to be part of a lower-carbon world. “As a leader in the carbon certification market, it certifies organisations that have met rigorous criteria for measuring their carbon footprint, demonstrating they have well-implemented energy and carbon management systems in place and which have reduced emissions year on year.” The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company and launched the Carbon Trust Standard to encourage good practice in carbon measurement, management and reduction by businesses and public sector organisations. It is designed to provide a robust, objective and consistent methodology for assessing corporate carbon performance.
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Its mission is to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, providing specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. Ian Hunter, Director of Estates at Bucks New University, said: “Achieving the Carbon Trust Standard is a great
22 The new Gateway building
acknowledgement of our achievements to date, and demonstrates our commitment to reducing carbon emissions each year. The main project that enabled us to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard was our campus consolidation and re- development programme, which included the disposal of old, inefficient sites and the substantial refurbishment and new building works at our High Wycombe and Uxbridge Campuses. Overall, campus consolidation at Bucks New University has enabled us to achieve a gross internal area reduction (of the non-residential estate) of 10,505m2
, which equates to a
19% reduction in floor space.” He continues: “In 2005 we started to look at the University estate, and several factors became evident. Our estate was experiencing increased backlog maintenance to an unaffordable level. Also, utility and unit fuel costs were increasing as our buildings and the heating plant were inefficient, and there was duplication of facilities on each site (library, refectory etc) creating unnecessary expense and energy consumption. The campuses were operating independently and the student experience was disjointed – ultimately, students were less attracted to the University as our competitors were providing better facilities.” Following a series of investigations and feasibility studies, in 2006 Bucks New University took the significant decision to consolidate its Buckinghamshire-based
PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY • VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1
Bucks staff pictured with the Carbon Trust Standard certificate
sites onto one central campus in High Wycombe in order to address the issues. This major undertaking required the refurbishment and remodelling of existing buildings, the design of new buildings, and the disposal of two sites and the decant of staff. Specialist consultants were appointed and new project teams formed within the institution for the management and governance committees to oversee the project. In addition, a space model for all the University curriculum and functions was required, as well as a property search to relocate the University’s Faculty of Society & Health within the M25 motorway to be nearer to its student education base. From the outset of the project, the design team was instructed that, wherever possible, the capital available was to be used to upgrade existing facilities and provide new heating and electrical lighting systems that would reduce the cost of fuel to the institution. All designs for new and refurbished buildings were required to minimise fuel costs, and various features were included in the design works to
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