jackiesimpson, Author at Sustainability

Rising to the top of the green league

By jackiesimpsonDec 13, 20230 Comments

The University of Reading has been ranked as the number one University in the 2023/24 People and Planet University League, rising from 4th place last year. This is the first time the University has achieved 1st place and we’re enormously proud to attain this, out of 151 UK Universities which reflects our environmental leadership and institutional commitment to sustainability . We have attained the 1st class universities status consistently since 2019. Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 P&P Score 55% No league published 69.9% 75.8% 81.8% Our overall score in 2019 was 55%, and in 2023 this has risen to…

Energy and Water

Going green at Green Festival 2023

By jackiesimpsonDec 04, 20230 Comments

This year’s Green Festival was held from 14-16 November and it was packed schedule of events which attracted a range of people across our University Community. The Sustainability Team would like to extend their thanks to the following people and teams who we worked closely with to deliver this great programme of events: Reading Students Union, Careers, Dominque Davies, Dylan Parkes, Reading Buses, Leonie Fisher, Bethany Brown, Jamie Robertson, Hedgehog Society, RECC, Citizens Advice, Water Aid, Community team, Students Advice Service, cycling team, Chaplaincy, UPP, MERL, Student Comms, Digital Engagement Team, Reading Students Union communications team and the University Internal…

Energy and Water

How to keep your bike secure

By jackiesimpsonDec 04, 20230 Comments

Bicycle thefts, attempted thefts and damages are a nationwide issue, and our campuses are unfortunately not exempt. We continually work to improve security around our cycle parking to ensure that cycling remains an attractive, safe and viable option for our staff, students and visitors. What do we do already? Thousands of cycle parking spaces, including secure cycle compounds across Whiteknights campus and at various Halls; Our Security team actively works to tackle cycle thefts through ‘Operation Velo’; We offer free bicycle security labels and discounted bike locks (available from the Security window at Whiteknights House); Our weekly…

Travel and Transport

Celebrating sustainability at Green Festival 2023

By jackiesimpsonNov 06, 20230 Comments

It’s Green Festival 2023 – the University of Reading’s annual sustainability celebration. This year the festival will be held on 14-16 November and we have an action packed schedule, which really does include something for everyone. Highlights include: Combat fast fashion with our clothes swap Become informed about the impact of our consumer habits on the Amazon rainforest Take part in our Big Discussion about Climate Justice Show off in our sustainable fashion show Join in with our eco poetry workshop Take action for our local environment by taking part in our litter picks Learn how to save money by…

Energy and Water

Henley Business School- Number 1 business faculty in the UK for smallest carbon footprint

By jackiesimpsonAug 14, 20230 Comments

Recently, the FT Masters in Finance Ranking has recognised our Henley Business School for having a minimal carbon footprint, coming joint first in the UK overall in this element the FT’s Rankings. This achievement reflects the commitment we have towards maintaining our green credentials, and also to our Net Zero by 2030 strategy. Click this link to our webpage, which details our carbon management projects: Carbon Management Projects - Sustainability (reading.ac.uk). We are currently the 4th most sustainable university in the UK, according to the latest ‘People and Planet’ University League in 2022. Click this link to find out more:…

Energy and Water

Consider the air handled! With AHU upgrades

By jackiesimpsonAug 14, 20230 Comments

The project Over the yearlong course from winter 2021-2022, we have successfully upgraded components of several Air Handling Units (AHUs) across our university campuses (Whiteknights, Greenland’s and London Road) in order to save huge amounts of energy and carbon. This sustainability project was funded by the Department for Energy and Net Zero, under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and delivered by Salix. The upgrades oversaw ten inverters and ten fan motors replaced within five older, inefficient AHUs. The units were replaced on a like for like basis, with more modern fittings and higher efficiencies where appropriate. All the AHUs…

Energy and Water

A Solar Success! New 600kWp Rooftop Solar PV arrays

By jackiesimpsonAug 14, 20230 Comments

During Autumn 2021, new Solar PV arrays were installed across 7 buildings on Whiteknights campus creating a huge annual energy and carbon saving. The project was delivered by Salix, and funded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), whereby a grant was awarded to The University in order for us to be able to carry out such instalments to meet our net zero by 2030 target. What is a Solar PV array? A Solar PV array is an assembly of photovoltaic panels, that are most commonly known as solar panels. Across our university campuses in total, we have 3400 solar…

Energy and Water

A star-studded Fairtrade accreditation

By jackiesimpsonJul 12, 20230 Comments

Great news! We have recently been awarded a 2-star Fairtrade University and College status award, delivered by SOS (Students Organising for Sustainability) and the Fairtrade Foundation. This accreditation is an excellent achievement for us, as this shows the University’s commitment towards: reducing the impact of our consumption, sustainable practices, and ethical support towards fairtrade communities and livelihoods. We are passionate about continuing to involve Fairtrade practices into our policy making, procurement, campaigns, university studies and of course into our food outlets. As a University, we were originally awarded Fairtrade University Status in 2020, from which our recent accreditation means we…

Fairtrade

Staying warm for less – BMS improvements

By jackiesimpsonJul 12, 20230 Comments

During Spring 2021, several energy saving improvements to the Building Management System (BMS) were installed. The upgrades are part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) delivered by Salix and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. We received a grant from Salix in 2020 for sustainable fixtures such as the BMS improvements, where for this project £84,108 of the total grant was used. The central BMS improvements included updates to various Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, which in turn digitalised our heating system making them easier to track and…

Energy and Water

Lighting the way with energy efficient LEDs

By jackiesimpsonJul 03, 20230 Comments

During the summer of 2021, LED lighting upgrade projects were undertaken across all three of our major campuses; London Road, Greenlands, and Whiteknights, with an additional specialist project at Minghella film studios. The new and more efficient instalments have positively impacted energy consumption and lighting load creating huge savings as a result, which has been an effective step towards our net zero for 2030 any other projects strategy. The LED lighting upgrades are a Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme project (PSDS), delivered by Salix and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. This project is just one of…

Energy and Water