36 | ASR A | CAMPUS SERVICES
W:
www.universitybusiness.co.uk | T: @UB_UK
GREEN LIVING
Sustainability and environmental issues are key for University of Limerick campus accommodation, writes Ellen Fitzmaurice, ASRA Ireland Rep
T
he University of Limerick is located on a beautiful parkland site bordering the River Shannon. With
nearly 2,500 residents living on campus, Campus Life Services is commited to promoting environmental issues within the villages. In conjunction with the University
of Limerick’s Buildings and Estates department, Campus Life Services are commited to ataining a Green Campus status. The Green Campus Programme
is managed in Ireland by An Taisce on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education. An Taisce is a charity which works to protect Ireland’s natural and built heritage. The Environmental Education Unit is responsible for developing and operating The Green Campus Programme and many other programmes and campaigns. It encourages a partnership approach to environmental management in third level institutions. The Green Campus Programme has been in operation since 2007 and currently has 20 campuses registered for the programme. To qualify for the Green Campus
Award, a commitee representative of the campus community must be formed and then register its intent to implement the Green Campus Programme. There are seven steps which should be implemented before applying for the Award, which include an environmental review, implementing an action plan, developing a green charter and involving
the campus and wider community. Green Campus status is achieved by
making significant progress in cross campus community collaboration under one or a number of the following themes; Energy, Water, Travel and Transport, Biodiversity and Waste. The themes that the University of Limerick are initially pursuing are Energy, Travel and Transport and Biodiversity. Energy use is the theme which is
particularly important to the villages on campus due to the number of residents and high usage levels of electricity and gas. Campus Life Services developed a ‘Green Living on Campus’ booklet for its residents where it highlights energy saving ideas that are practical and effective in reducing energy usage in the villages. During our Green Campus Week, we provided each bedroom door with a door hanger, reminding the residents of the energy saving tips and raising awareness of the Green Campus Programme. Limerick was awarded the title
of Ireland’s first Smarter Travel Demonstration City which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Limerick City and County Council, in partnership with the University of Limerick, now has the means to distribute a complimentary suite of
“The Green Campus Programme has been in operation since 2007 and currently has 20 campuses registered for the programme”
infrastructure and behaviour change measures to support and encourage people to plan for and use healthier and more sustainable modes of travel. To support the Limerick Smarter Travel plan, under the travel and transport theme of the Green Campus Programme, Campus Life Services has introduced a Village Fleet Bicycle Scheme, where residents can borrow a bicycle through the village reception for a period up to one week. This will promote bicycle travel and allow residents temporary usage of the bicycles for travel on campus for lectures, off campus to visit friends or to the shops and to travel around the beautiful environs and to the city. The University of Limerick Campus
stands at more than 340 acres. The priority given to the landscape by the University’s Buildings and Estates department has resulted in a beautiful campus for us to enjoy. The River Shannon flows through the campus and is a central focal point home to many birds and mammals. To enhance and promote the wildlife in the villages on campus, we introduced bird tables so that the residents will be able to enjoy birdlife at different times of the year. It is hoped that along with many
other projects happening on campus, including our community roof garden and weekly Farmers' Market, that the University of Limerick will successfully atain the Green Campus status in the coming academic year. UB
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