Green Week Photo Challenge

By joburtonOct 26, 20120 Comments
Enter our Green Week Photo Challenge for a chance to win a fold-up bike or a solar powered radio! Here's how: Take 5 photos, one per theme, to enter a prize draw to win the fold up bicycle.  There’s also a separate prize of a solar powered radio for the funniest photo posted to facebook (facebook.com/eestatreading), voted for by the number of likes on facebook! The 5 categories are: re-use it switch it off tree huggers layering up travelling green To enter, simply email your photos to eest@reading.ac.uk or post on our facebook page facebook.com/eestatreading by Wednesday 14 November.  We…
Awards and Achievements
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35% carbon reduction – we’re nearly halfway there!

By joburtonOct 24, 20120 Comments
We're almost halfway to achieving our 35% carbon reduction target, just 2 years into our 5 year Carbon Management Plan!  Already, we've made a 16.5% reduction against our baseline emissions, which has saved £3.9m and 11,137 tonnes of CO2 over the last 2 years, for an initial project investment of just over £1m. We reduced our emissions by 6.9% against our baseline in 2011/12, building on a 9.6% reduction the previous year.   Our carbon footprint includes a range of emissions, from heating fuel and electricity, to waste, water and transport.  As our understanding develops, we will continue to target reductions across all…
Awards and Achievements, Energy and Water
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The University wins Gold for Going Greener

By joburtonJun 29, 20120 Comments
The University's commitment to improving its green credentials has been recognised by recently gaining the Gold EcoCampus award. EcoCampus is a scheme designed to help higher education institutions improve their environmental performance. Reading's commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by 35% by 2015/16 via a new carbon management plan was instrumental in the University attaining the award. Other key factors in the University's recent ‘green' success include its behavioural change policy for staff and students and commitment to making our campuses as eco-friendly as possible. Many members of staff were involved in the recent Green Impact Awards, which encourages teams…
Awards and Achievements
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Green League Table Result Confirms Environmental Progress

By joburtonMay 29, 20120 Comments
The University has been awarded an Upper Second Class Award and ranked 59 out of 145 in the People & Planet Green League 2012, an improvement of 24 places from last year and 3 points short of achieving a ‘First'. Sir David Bell told staff: "In the past 12 months, we have cut our carbon usage by 10% in absolute terms¹ as we pursue the challenging objectives from our Carbon Management Plan of reducing our carbon footprint by 35% by 2015/16. "As an institution with a global reputation for sustainability and climate change research, we need to ensure good environmental…
Awards and Achievements
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Sustainability Champions Network

As part of the Our Future First sustainable behaviours programme, a network of sustainability champions has been set up across all schools and functions with the University. Champions are volunteers who care about sustainability and want to work collaboratively to make a positive difference, helping to reduce the environmental impact of their department and the University. Our champions are integral to the Our Future First programme - they inspire others; influence departmental decisions to factor in sustainability; act as our 'eyes and ears' across campus to identify opportunities for improvements; and share ideas, listen and learn from each other -…
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Sustainability Volunteering

We all have our part to play in transitioning to a more sustainable future. If you're feeling inspired to help make a difference, why not take action and join a sustainable volunteering group. There are plenty of options to choose from both on campus and in the local area, enabling you to give back, support the cause and ultimately make a contribution to reducing the environmental impact on our planet. Not only will you be helping the environment, volunteering can provide an opportunity to meet like minded people, learn new skills, and studies have shown that it can also help…
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Our Future First

Our Future First is the University’s sustainable behaviours programme which will embed sustainability into our culture, with everyone playing their part to create collective, positive change for our community and our planet. Why: To address the dual challenges of meeting our sustainability commitment to become Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and tackling rapidly rising energy costs. Who: Develop a network of sustainability champions across all schools and fucntions on Whiteknights, London Road and Greenlands. How: Collaborate, listen, share, teach, learn, inspire, connect, evolve, celebrate - everyone working together to take small actions which collectively have a big impact. We can…
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Doing UoR Bit

Doing UoR Bit is our sustainable action platform which makes it easy and rewarding to do your bit, big or small, for the environment. The platform is available on both desktops and mobiles through an app. It highlights simple actions that you can complete that can reduce your carbon footprint, that are good for the environment and your own wellbeing.  New activities are added regularly, so there will always be something new to try. The platform shows you the positive impact of the actions you take - whether it be through carbon emissions avoided or how many bottles you've prevented…
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Policies, Strategies and Reports

The University’s Sustainability vision is to be: “…Embedding sustainability practices across the University’s operations to become a leader in global environmental sustainability.” Policies Environmental and Energy Policy 2023/24 Re-use Policy Fairtrade Policy Ethical Investment Policy Biodiversity Policy Sustainable Food Policy Procurement Policy IT Equipment Disposal Policy Emergency Lift Home Policy e-Scooter + e-Bike Policy Travel policy Certificates University of Reading Origin of Electricity 22-24 University of Reading Origin of Electricity 20-22 University of Reading Origin of Electricity 19-20 Renewable Energy Certificate for Domestic Sites 20-22 ISO 14001 2023 - 2026 Environmental Management Certificate - Whiteknights Campus (p1) ISO 50001 2023…
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