The University of Reading has used the Doing UoR Bit platform for a number of years, allowing staff to take simple actions to reduce their impact on the environment and be rewarded. The platform has been a successful programme, providing many people with new and different ideas of ways they can be more sustainable and helping the University to succeed with its sustainability ambitions to embed greener behaviour across our staff community.
As the University approaches its centenary and we move towards being within 5 years of becoming a Net Zero institution it is vital to raise our ambitions and to do this we believe that we can have a greater impact in other ways and we will no longer be using the Doing UoR Bit platform as of the end of August 2024. Increasingly we are an institution where sustainable practices are woven into our daily working lives, where taking action to help our planet has become second nature to our staff and students.
The platform had over 1000 staff members and collectively with the students signed ups all the activities have contributed to avoid 324 tonnes of CO2 emissions over a two year period – which is enough to fill 1620 double decker buses! A fantastic 500,000 actions were completed on the platform. People engaged the most with the report your recycling, steps challenge and switch off activities. Our congratulations go to the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences as they were the highest point scoring staff and student team.
We have evolved our approach through the Our Future First (OFF) programme which is now fully embedded across the University, with a Champion in every school and department but we have to go further to demonstrate our organisational wide commitment to sustainability at every level of the organisation. We run monthly drop in sessions for Champions, covering a range of topics and every quarter there is a network meeting. The most recent meeting looked at the great successes of the energy saving programme, which has saved an amazing £1.25 m. This could not have been achieved without the collective effort of the Champions, Estates and building occupants. You can find out more information about how get involved here.
The University is aiming to maintain our top 5 position in the People and Planet league and this will not be possible without the collective effort of our entire staff and student communities. We can all take actions, small or big, to become more sustainable – at home, work and in our communities.
The Sustainability team has a varied and exciting series of events planned for the next few months, which will all give you ideas about how to make your life more sustainable:
- On 9th October from 11:00-13:30 you can win free travel with Reading Buses in the Library foyer and form 12:00-14:00 you find out how to get into cycling with our ‘on your bike day’.
- On 19-21 November we are holding our annual sustainability celebration, Green Festival 2024. The programme is being finalised, but already confirmed are: anxiety relief yoga, meditative nature walk, community litter picks, celebrate sustainability with singing, second hand bike sale, Introduction to Carbon Literacy training, Fairtrade produce sale, Reading students at COP29 and a sewing workshop.
- On 11th December from 11:00-13:30 in the Library foyer you can find out more about energy saving and how you can join us by switching off this Christmas.
Learning more
The University provides a range of free short online courses so our staff can learn more about the topics they are most passionate about. You can also explore your own environmental footprint using the WWF footprint calculator.
Take action
You can search the web using Ecosia and plant trees at the same time. Second hand sale sites like Vinted and Ebay (many other platforms available) can reduce your environmental impact by buying pre loved items rather than new. Our Planet Partners website gives lots of ideas for actions you can take, and the Reading Climate Action Network website has fantastic tips to reduce your impact. You can sign up as a Climate Ambassador and help spread the word about climate action.
You can find out more information about the Sustainability Team’s work by reading our blogs, by signing up to our newsletter, by following us on X, Instagram or Facebook and on our Sustainability website.
