Behaviour Change Archives - Page 3 of 4

PODCAST – ‘How to be more sustainable and save money’

By jackiesimpsonNov 16, 20220 Comments

As part of our Green Festival 2022 celebrations we recorded our first very own sustainability podcast which is full of helpful tips on ways you can be more sustainable, saving money in the process. Jackie Simpson, from Sustainability Services, and the University's Director of Energy and Sustainability, Dan Fernbank, discuss simple actions to reduce waste, carbon emissions and be more sustainable at home and at University. Some highlights include: Switch all devices off as even things left on standby draw power. Buy less things, question your purchase decisions and buy second hand wherever possible. Run washing machines and dishwashers on…

Behaviour Change, Energy and Water

Welcome to Doing #UoR Bit for students!

By jackiesimpsonSep 22, 20220 Comments

Sustainability Services are proud to announce the launch of our new sustainable action platform for students, Doing #UoR Bit. This has been made possible by the generosity of donors to the University of Reading IMAGINE campaign and amazing support from RUSU to the prize fund. Earn prizes for being sustainable As part of our goal to become a world-leading institution for sustainability, the University of Reading is rewarding its students for making sustainable choices at home and at the university. Doing #UoRBit is an app and online platform where you can record your sustainable actions – like travelling sustainably, reporting…

Behaviour Change

Sustainability Events

Sustainability Services at University of Reading hold a number of events throughout the year to engage with our community to promote, educate and celebrate sustainable actions

Every drop matters!

By jackiesimpsonAug 10, 20220 Comments

Climate change’s affects on weather patterns means that water scarcity is becoming a reality in some parts of the world and the UK will not escape these impacts. Adaptation to these impacts will see the need to reduce consumption and careful water management will become vital in the coming years. The University is committed to managing our water use effectively to ensure that we protect this limited and increasingly precious resource. In July 2021 the University achieved significant reductions against all of its 5 year targets which were set in the 2016-21 Carbon and Water Management Plan. For non-residential properties…

Behaviour Change, Energy and Water

Upcoming Events

Smile with Sustainability Held on the second Wednesday of each month, during semester time. It's your opportunity to: engage with our team, find out more about what we're working on, give feedback and provide new ideas. Future events: Green Festival 2025 - Join together to learn more and celebrate all things sustainability! This year the festival will be held on 11-13 November and have a bumper schedule, which really does include something for everyone! All events are free and hosted across Whiteknights and London Road.

A new LEAF in laboratory sustainability at the university

By rhidiandaviesJun 29, 20220 Comments

A new LEAF in laboratory sustainability at the university The University of Reading provides invaluable teaching and research through our on-campus laboratories. The nature of laboratory work is very carbon-intensive and, as a result, the universities’ science-based buildings represent 25% of total energy consumption and produce 20% of total day-to-day waste (by weight) . In order to support all relevant departments with creating a more sustainable laboratory culture, we are now participating in the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF). LEAF is an online assessment tool to aid improvements in the sustainability and efficiency of both research and teaching laboratories and is already…

Awards and Achievements, Behaviour Change, Energy and Water, Waste and Recycling

Key Staff and Committees

The University has a dedicated team to manage sustainability across our campus. In addition, a number of groups, committees and senior management staff have sustainability responsibilities as detailed below (hover over the staff pictures for information on their experience and responsibilities). Progress against our sustainability objectives/strategy is reported to the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC), and to the University Executive Board (via ESC), through our annual Environmental Sustainability Report. Sustainability Staff Sustainability Groups and Committees Campus Operations Programme Board (COPB) This group is responsible for reviewing the Environment & Energy Management System (EEMS) and supporting the implementation of the system to…

Reducing food waste at the University of Reading

By jackiesimpsonMar 09, 20220 Comments

The University of Reading puts sustainability at the heart of everything we do, it is a cornerstone of our strategic vision. A key part of sustainability is to reduce the amount of waste generated across all streams and our commitment to reducing food waste is led by our Hospitality and Catering Teams. The University has adopted the Sustainable Food Policy And Framework, which outlines all the actions that have been completed in this area and those in progress. This policy includes many areas which are relevant to reducing food waste and those which are most relevant are highlighted below: •…

Behaviour Change, Waste and Recycling

Earth Day 2021

By naomiwadsworthApr 22, 20210 Comments

The publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in 1962 marked a watershed moment in our planet’s history, raising public awareness and concern for our environment, our wildlife and the links between pollution and human health. The emerging shift in public consciousness and societal values was provided a voice during the first Earth Day in 1970. Since its inception, Earth Day has marked important environmental events, including the signing of the 2015 Paris Agreement. This year the theme for Earth Day is ‘Restore our Earth’ bringing focus to climate change mitigation and actions we can take to restore our planet’s ecosystems.…

Behaviour Change, Policy

Sustainability spotlight: Giki

By lukecantellowNov 11, 20200 Comments

Sustainability has become a familiar term to most people in the 21st century, however, people have been debating about sustainability and the environment decades ago. Knowing this, and seeing increased climate activism from figures such as David Attenborough, Leonardo Di Caprio, and Greta Thunberg, we might be looking for advice on how to make more sustainable choices on an individual level. This blog post will provide the down-low on a social enterprise designed for individuals like staff and students of Reading; Giki. Who is Giki? Giki stands for Get Informed Know your Impact and was set up for one simple…

Behaviour Change