SU's Weekly Blog: UAL goes green

by Helen Gimber

The month of November is University of the Arts London’s Green Festival, seeking to reduce the University's impact on the environment.

This month we are showcasing sustainability-related academic activity across the university to raise awareness about some of the issues that affect the university and promote practical initiatives.

The university decided to run this month of events because of our GO GREEN campaign last year. While these commitments are a step in the right direction, it still leaves quite a bit left be desired.

UAL received a ‘fail’ in the 2009 People & Planet’s Green League, coming in at 125 out of 126 universities. After discussions over the summer, the university finally agreed to the revised commitments (below) on October 21.

It was one of a number of commitments they made in response to the five GO GREEN objectives of the Green Charter 2009. Last week Nigel Carrington, UAL’s rector, signed on the dotted line making it official.

 

Objective 1: Sufficient recycling facilities should be available at all UAL sites and all halls of residence, with consideration also given to specialist recycling e.g. textiles, wood at relevant sites.

UAL Commitment:

•To provide widely available recycling facilities for paper, cardboard, aluminium and glass possible across all UAL sites by December 2009.

•To investigate providing specialist recycling facilities on relevant sites by December 2009 and to report back to Estates & Facilities Sustainability Committee in Spring Term 2010.

•To task the estates department with ensuring that the University increases the amount of waste that it recycles.

•To task the estates department with holding recycling information road shows at all UAL sites between September and December 2009

•To run Student Switch Off in 2009/2010 in all eligible halls managed by UAL, Unite, Opal & Cordwainers Educational Trust

•To encourage Sanctuary Housing to be involved with Student Switch Off in 2010/2011

Objective 2: At least one aspect of all courses at UAL should have sustainability in the learning outcomes, whether this is in the form of a ‘Green Module’ or is integrated into the curriculum.

•To audit academic activity related to sustainability across UAL by December 2009.

•To co-ordinate a month of sustainability-themed research and curriculum related-events, activities and discussion groups in November 2009.

•To revisit the discussion around this objective during November 2009.

Objective 3: UAL should switch to a Green Energy Provider who supports the development of new carbon-free and renewable energy sources for the future.

•To task the estates department to spend £500 on devices to monitor energy consumption with a view to reduce energy use within the university.

Objective 4: UAL should commit to a continuing programme of sustainable IT development with the aim of reducing overall energy use and pollution.

•To further develop and implement the IT Services Green Policy by 2009

•To task the IT department to provide UAL with sustainable IT services in a way that minimises the impact of electrical and electronic equipment on the environment during its lifetime and when it becomes waste.

•To procure, operate and dispose of all IT and related equipment in an environmentally friendly manner.

•To roll out pilots of technology-facilitated energy-saving initiatives, such as auto-shutdown, across the University by July 2010

Objective 5: UAL should provide Bike storage facilities at all sites and showers should be installed on all main sites.

•To task the Estates Department with carrying out an audit of current shower provision across UAL sites and to ensure that any such provision is useable and accessible to students.

•To find appropriate sums for worthwhile and feasible projects (as judged by Estates & Facilities Sustainability Committee) providing bike stands and installing showers at sites in order of preference as prescribed by the Students’ Union.

•For Wimbledon to work with Transport for London to install bike stands at both sites and do work on a broad range of travel planning activities.

•To task the Estates Department to investigate rolling out the Transport for London Scheme to other colleges.

Student interest in all things green is growing, with one in two students in our annual survey asking us to campaign on green issues. Get involved at www.suarts.org/green