Exploring low carbon heating in Henley-on-Thames

By danfernbankSep 26, 20190 Comments
Using the River Thames for heat Since 2017, the University has been investigating the potential to provide low carbon heating to its Henley Business School, Greenlands campus. The site has a prime location on the banks of the River Thames on the outskirts of Henley-on-Thames. Heating at the site is currently from oil-fired boilers in each building and investigations have identify a water source heat pump to be a viable low carbon alternative. The large heat body of the River Thames nearby makes this a potentially ideal resource for low-grade heat to be extracted from. In simple terms, a heat…
Awards and Achievements, Energy and Water, , , , ,
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Student Sustainability Assistants

By sustainabilityservicesMar 15, 20180 Comments
In the spring term Sustainability Services have taken on 4 Student Sustainability Assistants to help aid some of the many exciting upcoming projects. The areas where most of the work is being focussed, is improvements to Recycling and Travel at the University. Mike is a second year Environmental Management student working with the team and this is an update on how he is finding his time with the team. I started working with Sustainability Services at the start of January to aid Ruth Harris and Anna Glue with the new bin installations at London Road and MERL. This included labelling…
Awards and Achievements, Waste and Recycling
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Green Gown Award win for Carbon Reduction

By jamesthorpeNov 22, 20170 Comments
We’re proud to be awarded winner in this year’s carbon reduction category at the EAUC’s Green Gown Awards, recognising our significant achievements in delivering a 35%* reduction in our emissions across the University. Established in 2004, the Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK and Ireland. With sustainability moving up the agenda, the Awards have become established as the most prestigious recognition of best practice within the further and higher education sector. The ethos of the awards is to celebrate, share and promote the outstanding sustainability leadership, management and best…
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Green Gown shortlisting for smashing our 35% carbon target!

By danfernbankOct 04, 20170 Comments
Our achievements in meeting our 35% carbon reduction target have been recognised with a shortlisting in the Carbon Reduction category of the EAUC's Green Gown Awards, which recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK. Since 2011, we have reduced our annual carbon emissions from 44,000 tCO2 to just over 28,500 tCO2, making us the leader amongst research-intensive universities for delivering sustained reductions in our emissions.*  Our wide-ranging programme has delivered over £17 million of financial savings for the University, whilst delivering more efficiency buildings, improving building comfort and upgrading science laboratory facilities. Sir…
Awards and Achievements, Energy and Water
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University leads the way in reducing carbon emissions

By danfernbankSep 28, 20170 Comments
The University of Reading has been ranked as one of the best universities in the country for reducing its environmental impacts.  In Brite Green’s lastest University Carbon Reduction Report, the University ranks: 5th for overall carbon emissions reductions 2nd for annual carbon reductions 2nd greatest reduction in carbon emissions per £ income We are proud of our achievements in reducing our carbon footprint; being the best research-intensive university in the country for delivering absolute reductions.  Brite Green’s report underlines our success as a sector leader, and we are particularly pleased to have made the 2nd best annual reductions (from 2014/15…
Awards and Achievements, Energy and Water
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New drinks machines provide free water and cut plastic waste

By jamesthorpeSep 14, 20170 Comments
University students and staff will help stop more than half a million plastic bottles being thrown away every year with the introduction of new drinks machines around campus. The University of Reading is becoming the first university in the UK to introduce new vending machines designed to provide healthier drink choices and cut the volume of plastic waste on campus. Around 650,000 plastic bottled drinks are used across the University’s Whiteknights and London Road campuses each year. To reduce the volume of plastic used on campus, the University is this week launching the Sustain It bottle – a reusable bottle that uses…
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Q and A with Abi, our summer intern

By jamesthorpeAug 25, 20170 Comments
This summer, Abi worked to raise awareness of the University’s new Waste Strategy including the new 60% recycling target. This included upgrading recycling facilities across ten buildings on campus, communicating with staff and students and investigate waste and recycling issues across campus. What did your role involved? As a Junior Sustainability Officer, I created a communication plan to engage with staff and students about upgrading facilities across campus. From Health & Safety’s input into the floorplans, porters’ assistance in moving newly unpacked and labelled bins and talking to staff during our recycling roadshows- this internship has taught me the importance…
Awards and Achievements, Waste and Recycling
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Environmental Fund – Success Story!

By joburtonJun 26, 20170 Comments
In March 2017, the Old Whiteknights House Green team were the successful recipients of money from an environmental fund, set up to support staff and students to undertake green projects important to them. Their project looked to encourage staff and students to get involved with a small kitchen garden they proposed to plant in the grounds of their building. The benefits of this were two-fold, to engage people with a very tangible environmental project near to their place of study/work but also to increase well-being with gardening a proven way to improve people's level of happiness. Over the last month,…
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How did we achieve our 35% carbon reduction target?

By joburtonFeb 08, 20170 Comments
We are delighted to announce that the University has cut its carbon emissions by 35%!!! This has produced a saving of £17 million over a five year period and means we have cut our annual carbon emissions from 44,000 tonnes of CO2 in 2008/09 to just over 28,500 tonnes per year now. The total carbon saved over the five year period is 63,000 tonnes, which equates to just over two years’ worth of the University’s current carbon emissions. This achievement puts the University among the top institutions in the country for reducing its carbon emissions. It demonstrates the University’s commitment to…
Awards and Achievements, Energy and Water
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Green Festival 2016 – A look back…

By joburtonNov 24, 20160 Comments
Last week the University celebrated all things sustainable with its first Green Festival. Running from Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 November there were a number of events including tours of the University’s state of the art energy centre, a careers event for students to explore environmental jobs and the ever popular Blackout event. We are delighted to say that many of the events were over-subscribed, demonstrating the passion and enthusiasm staff and students have at the University for green issues. During the week over 50 staff and students visited joined one of the Energy Centre or Carrington building tours and…
Awards and Achievements, Energy and Water
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