From Strategy to Reality: Delivering Sustainability

1. From Strategy to Reality: Delivering Sustainability Daniel Botterill & Michelle Dixon – Sustainable Resource Solutions Katherine O’Brien – University of Hertfordshire

2. + From Strategy to Reality: Delivering Sustainability How can we build on strategy and policy good practice to achieve significant reductions in resource consumption and costs in the FHE sector? • Where are we? • Where do we want to be? • How do we get there? • Funding and investment • Effective project management • High performance contracts and contract management • Communications and campaigns • Monitoring and reporting • Case Study: from strategy to reality at the University of Hertfordshire • Discussion: sharing experience in successful project implementation

3. Where are we?

4. + Where do we need to be? We now need to go beyond strategy and achieve measured and significant reductions in costs and resource consumption HEFCE budget settlements and the need to reduce non pay costs • 41 institutions have seen real-term funding cuts • 15 institutions have seen cash cuts The rise of the Green League and benchmarking – green reputation is becoming ever important The Carbon Reduction Commitment – Early action metrics such as the Carbon Trust Standard Capital funding for Universities will be linked to performance in reducing carbon emissions

5. How do we get there? Commitment, staff time Policy, strategy, management systems Opportunities assessment Improved Implementation Effective monitoring , reporting and verification Presenting the case effectively Securing and negotiating funding and investment Effective communication, engagement and campaigns Effectively managing projects and contracts

6. + Gaining External Funding • HEFCE LGM • Revolving Green Fund • BREW Funding for public sector organisations • WRAP – capital grants programme for infrastructure projects • Carbon Trust – CMEE projects, partnership for renewables • Regional Development Agency Funds – LDA, Yorkshire Forward etc

7. + Effective Project management • Make the most senior member of staff available to manage projects  • Collaborating with others – don’t reinvent the wheel • NISP • Regional University Groups • Regional purchasing consortia and OGC • Collaborative contracts  • Make use of existing experience • EAUC projects, resource bank and JISC • Extensive sector Initiatives •  Look for local and/or novel solutions  • Local furniture re-use networks and charities • Specialist facilities e.g energy from waste plants, MRFs

8. + Effective Contracts and Contractor Management • It is crucial to both have input during the tender stage and actively manage contracts thereafter • Identify and track high risk sustainability contracts in your institution • The specification is very important – set environmental criteria based on sustainability specifications • State what you want, don’t be sold a standard service • Ensure that sustainability staff are present for key contract interviews and are included in contract management meetings. • Include penalties in the contract for not meeting sustainability criteria

9. Communications and campaigns Know your audience and relate to individuals Make direct requests People are more worried about loss than gain Empathy and imagination Make it normal ‘most people are doing something’ Keep remindingDon’t talk about the future or people’s grandchildren!Start small, get people interested No fear without agency

10. + Communications and campaigns • A few other tips: • Change your messages, use a variety of approaches • Rewards, incentives, competitions • Make people feel they are part of something bigger than them – clubs, groups • Help people to feel good – congratulate over berate • Link to existing issues and events within your organisation • Be positive, make it fun!

12. + Monitoring, reporting and bill verification • Set clear reporting guidelines for reporting on key contracts – this will be especially important for waste contracts • Include a requirement for monthly reporting as part of your key contracts • Use reporting highlights as part of your communications activities • Check bills and invoices, don’t just sign off • You can save around 3% of your energy costs. May be done manually or through bill validation software. Check: • Correct cost breakdown, estimates, are the rates correct? is it roughly what you expect? (make comparisons month by month over several years), how does it compare? check calculations, don’t be afraid to dispute.

13. + Rethinking Rubbish at Hertfordshire • Recycling rates increased from 30% to 70% • Total amount of waste produced has fallen by 20% • Waste management costs have been reduced by more than 30%

14. + Rethinking Rubbish at Hertfordshire • Audit and opportunities analysis • Flexible project management staff • Compliance system has been designed and implemented • New waste management contract has been developed and is being managed effectively • Increase in the value obtained for rebates • Recovered excessive costs and historic rebates • New facilities and awareness campaign • 6 Year waste strategy and vision

15. + Sharing Ideas, Experience and Resources • What are the main barriers to implementing sustainability strategy and policy in the FHE sector? How do you think these could be overcome? • What are your main successes with project implementation and how have you achieved them? • What would make your life easier as environmental manager – any specific project tools or practical project assistance? • What opportunities are there to collaborate with other Universities. What is already happening?

16. + Thank you for your time Michelle Dixon Sustainability Manager Sustainable Resource Solutions LTD Michelle.dixon@srs-eu.com Daniel Botterill Director Sustainable Resource Solutions LTD Daniel.botterill@srs-eu.com