Becoming an Environmental
Coordinator
What’s it all about?
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
Environmental Coordinator Role
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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
Environmental Coordinator Role
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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
Environmental Coordinator Role
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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
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
Environmental Coordinator Role
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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?
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)
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
What you need to know about the
Environment Team
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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
The Environment Team
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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)
The Environment Team
• Top from left: Phil,
Chrispal and Emma
• Far left: Sandra
• Left below: Ellen
• Bottom: Vic
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)
WORK THEMES
• Energy
• Waste
• Water
• Biodiversity/Land
management
• Building/Construction
& Renovation
• Transport
• Procurement
• Corporate Social
Responsibility
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
What has been achieved in the
last few years?
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.
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
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
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
Energy Performance of Buildings
• Display Energy
Certificates put in
the foyers of
buildings over
1,000 m2 to
demonstrate
energy
performance
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)
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
Showing our waste footprint
• Waste pile in Queens Hall as part of
Little Green Week 2009
Strategy Approved
• Environmental
Sustainability Strategy
• Provides a plan for the
next 5 years covering:
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Carbon
Research
Teaching
Campus impacts
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
2011 in pictures
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
BIG GREEN WEEK
ES Strategy 2010 - 2015
• Environmental Sustainability Strategy to be
released around University in February 2010
• It has 4 strategic aims covering:
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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)
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
Any questions?
environment@le.ac.uk
www.le.ac.uk/environment