Becoming an Environmental Coordinator - Why We Need You!

1. Becoming an Environmental CoordinatorWhat’s it all about?

2. Overview • What is being an Environmental Coordinator all about? • Benefits for you • Why we need you • What you need to know about the Environment Team • Environment Team headlines over last 4 years • Staff induction

3. Environmental Coordinator Role STATUS • It is a voluntary role (at the moment) • Other Universities have formalised the role • Some Environmental Coordinators at UoL have had the role written into their job summary • Reward mechanisms will be investigated

4. Environmental Coordinator Role MAIN POINT OF CONTACT • Departmental contact for the central Env Team • Contact details to be included on Environment Team webpages • Can choose to receive Env Team news articles automatically • Will be informed of green issues through regular updates from Env Team – mostly email but also at meetings

5. Environmental Coordinator Role COMMUNICATION & INSPIRATION • Big carbon savings achievable through changed behaviour at work • Need to maintain levels of interest with colleagues and students • Includes ad hoc involvement in communication campaigns e.g. Big/Little Green Weeks etc. • Act as an ambassador for the central Env Team • Inspire activity in colleagues and students

6. Environmental Coordinator Role • INVOLVEMENT IN ENVIRONMENT TEAM ACTIVITIES • Attend update meetings (about 3 per year) • Always have workshop sessions where we can share ideas on our work • Green Impact project – Dept environmental accreditation & award scheme • Communications events – help always needed • Environmental induction at a Dept level

7. Environmental Coordinator Role ADVICE TO COLLEAGUES/STUDENTS • Should be able to answer the following: • Where is my nearest plastics recycling bin? • Does the University have an environmental policy? • Which bin do I put my crisp packet into? • Where can I get hold of recycling bags? • What is the University doing about its carbon footprint? • When is the next green event?

8. Benefits of the Role • Recognition for involvement now possible through the Green Impact award • Access to Dept/building data allowing the setting of building targets for energy-reductions – important when Depts are recharged for energy usage (currently under discussion) • Will be pursuing option of including a line in job descriptions to cover EC roles • References for active ECs will be available if needed • Cakes – sometimes… and homemade! :o)

9. Why we need you! • Get quick messages out about green initiatives • Involve the whole University in green developments • Facilitate/devolve greater responsibility for green actions to the Dept/College level • Respond to the requirements of the strategy – 60% carbon emissions cut by 2020 – a VERY BIG ASK – we must have support from Depts to achieve this

10. What you need to know about the Environment Team • Who we are • What we do • Where we are based • Accessing our webpages to find: • Environmental Sustainability Policy • A to Z of waste and recycling • Strategy • Latest news

11. The Environment Team • Dr Emma Fieldhouse – Environmental Manager • Chrispal Anand – Carbon & Energy Manager • Phil Ball – Waste Manager • Dr Sandra Lee – Sustainable Travel Officer • Ellen Holmes – Communications & Events Intern • Victoria Robinson – Ecological Surveyor • Jay Gohil – Administrative Support • 50 + Environmental Coordinators (staff in Depts) • 400 + Environment Team volunteers (students)

12. The Environment Team • Top from left: Phil, Chrispal and Emma • Far left: Sandra • Left below: Ellen • Bottom: Vic

13. WORK THEMES Energy Waste Water Biodiversity/Land management Building/Construction & Renovation Transport Procurement Corporate Social Responsibility What does the Environment Team do? WHY? • Legal compliance • Driven by policy/strategy WHAT? • Communication IS KEY • Working towards formal Environmental Management Systems (commencing 2012)

14. Contact details • Within the Estates & Facilities Management Division of Corporate Services • Room 17, Fielding Johnson Building • All queries to environment@le.ac.uk go to several members of the team and will be responded to within 5 working days • Also waste@le.ac.uk,carbon@le.ac.uk and travel@le.ac.uk for specific queries on these issues • Webpages: www.le.ac.uk/environment

15. What has been achieved in the last few years?

16. Recycling Scheme • Introduced an award-winning recycling scheme across all of the non-residential (and now residential) buildings using 600 hours of volunteer time. We now recycle up to 86% of our waste.

17. Carbon Footprint • We have produced a carbon footprint for the University and we are committed to reducing our footprint by 20% by 2012 and 60% by 2020

18. District Energy Scheme • The holes appearing on the campus in 2011 and up University Road are for the pipework for the District Energy Scheme • The scheme has been led by the City Council and links University and public sector buildings through heating pipework so heat can be generated and distributed more efficiently • Once switched on at Easter 2012 it will produce a 10 – 15% reduction in the University’s carbon footprint immediately

19. Green Buildings • We are committed to achieving BREEAM ‘excellent’ (a green building design scheme) in all of our major projects • Percy Gee SU is currently shortlisted for a sustainability award

20. Energy Performance of Buildings • Display Energy Certificates put in the foyers of buildings over 1,000 m2 to demonstrate energy performance

21. Carbon Trust Standard • Achieved in 2010 • Based on a relative reduction of 7% since 2004/5 • Gas and electricity absolute reductions of 6.6% and 2% respectively were seen on the main campus this year (2011)

22. Setting the target • The University has committed to a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 from what we produced in 2004/5 • The district heating network will produce up to 15% reduction

23. Showing our waste footprint • Waste pile in Queens Hall as part of Little Green Week 2009

24. Strategy Approved • Environmental Sustainability Strategy • Provides a plan for the next 5 years covering: • Carbon • Research • Teaching • Campus impacts

25. Volunteer Assistance • We have used hundreds of hours of volunteer time to help us with many different projects • Volunteers shown receiving certificates and promoting the Golden Bin Challenge

26. 2011 in pictures

27. Environment Team Headlines • New cycle store being built outside the library (will be opened in spring 2012 and house 300 bikes) • Travel plan approved • New parking scheme has reduced permits by 13% in 2011 • Many discounts available • Go to www.le.ac.uk/travelplan for details

28. BIG GREEN WEEK

30. ES Strategy 2010 - 2015 • Environmental Sustainability Strategy to be released around University in February 2010 • It has 4 strategic aims covering: • Carbon • Estates environmental impacts • Research • Teaching • Carbon commitments • 10% by 2010 carbon reduction • 60% absolute carbon emissions reduction by 2020 against 2004/5 baseline (equivalent to 50% against 1990 levels)

31. Staff (& Student?) Induction • MAIN THINGS TO BE AWARE OF • Nearest recycling containers – where to get a recycling deskbin from (staff only) • A to Z of waste and recycling (from webpages) so they know what to recycle into which containers • Env Sustainability policy (from March 2007) • Env Sustainability strategy (2010 - 2015) – impacts on research and teaching & campus • Location of webpages • Student (and staff) volunteering opportunities

32. Any questions? environment@le.ac.uk www.le.ac.uk/environment