This is a timeline to demonstrate what universities in Birmingham are doing to be eco-friendly. This can include anything from holding Fairtrade events to receiving an ‘EcoCampus’ award.
Created by victoriaelmore on May 28, 2010
Last updated: 05/28/10 at 03:59 PM
Tags: Birmingham Aston University Environment Eco Carbon 10:10 EcoCampus Award
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Aston University staff and students are planning to get involved with the ‘Environment Challenge’ which this year is creating an allotment garden for elderly residents in Birmingham. The challenge will include: building raised beds for planting, planting organic products, erecting fencing and creating a picnic area.
Aston University have been involved with the charity, ‘Community Service Volunteers Environment’ in recent years and have already completed four challenges with the charity.
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/staff/hr/policy-procedures/other/aston-staff-volunteering/forthcoming-events/
Aston University are hoping to achieve the next stage of the EcoCampus programme during the summer of 2010. This will include implementing new recycling facilities on campus, continuing to promote the ‘10:10 Campaign’ and installing an on-site composter to compost food and garden waste.
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/environment/what-were-doing/ecocampus/
Birmingham City University’s halls of residence ‘Oscott Gardens’ are the latest winners of the ‘Student Switch of Campaign’. The university is continuing to get more students involved in the campaign by setting up a Facebook group called the ‘Eco Power Rangers’ and offering numerous prizes.
http://studentswitchoff.org/home
The ‘Student Switch Off’ Campaign first ran as a pilot in 2006/07 and has since grown enormously and universities all over the country are getting involved.
The campaigns main energy saving actions, that they ask students to carry out are:
• Put a lid on the pan whilst cooking (reduces energy by 90%)
• Put an extra layer on, not the heating
• Boil as much water as you need
• Turn off your electronics at the wall
• Unplug your mobile phone when not using it
The University of Birmingham’s hall of residence ‘Maple Bank’ are the latest winners of the ‘Student Switch of Campaign’. The university is continuing to get more and more people involved by having a Facebook group and now including information on their official website.
http://www.undergraduate.bham.ac.uk/birmingham/sustainability.shtml
The University of Birmingham has recently opened England’s only hydrogen fuelling station on their Edgbaston campus. They are the first university to think of the initiative, but other universities including Loughborough and Coventry are have been quick to announce that they will be implementing hydrogen fuelling stations.
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2214508/england-opens-first-hydrogen
Aston University recently signed up to take part in ‘EcoCampus’. EcoCampus is an Environmental Management system that is tailored to help universities meet the ‘Environmental Management Standard (ISO14001). The programme, which has four stages, takes place over a three year period. During those three years Universities have to make, enforce and complete plans to make University campuses more ‘eco friendly’. Aston have now received the first stage of the award – bronze by introducing more policy’s and initiatives on campus which they are hoping to enforce in the next stage of the programme.
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/environment/what-were-doing/ecocampus/
Birmingham City University aimed to produce a ‘carbon reduction commitment strategy’ during March of this year. By doing this the university hoped to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from energy, waste and transport by 10% in 2010.
Birmingham City University have just been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard which demonstrates the increase in sustainability efforts that have been made by the university.
Birmingham City University has recently received the EcoCampus silver award for their efforts and achievements in making their campus greener and more environmentally friendly. EcoCampus is an Environmental Management system that is tailored to help universities meet the ‘Environmental Management Standard (ISO14001). The programme, which has four stages, takes place over a three year period. During those three years Universities have to make, enforce and complete plans to make University campuses more ‘eco friendly’. Birmingham City University are now implementing more features to work towards the gold award.
University of Birmingham hosted an ‘Ethical Fashion Show’ as part of Fairtrade Fortnight. The ‘Fashion Show’ was all in aid of raising awareness of Fairtrade clothing and promoting how it can be modern, fashionable and reasonably priced. The evening consisted of a catwalk displaying Fairtrade, organic and vintage clothing modelled by students at the University.
http://www.has.bham.ac.uk/catering/fairtrade/
University of Birmingham put a lot of effort into hosting their Fairtrade events; this is demonstrated by the large amount of performances they held during Fairtrade Fortnight. Fab ‘n’ Fairtrade was another event that the university put on to get students and members of the public to have an evening of entertainment with dancing, partying and the opportunity to buy Fairtrade beer, wine and snacks.
http://www.guildofstudents.com/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=132053
The University of Birmingham have been involved with FairtradeUK since 2003 and have continued to campaign for the increase of Fairtrade consumption on campus, by selling products in the university shops and recently opening a Tradecraft stall on campus. They held the ‘Wine Tasting’ event during Fairtrade Fortnight to encourage students and members of the public to come along and to taste some of the best Fairtrade wine.
http://www.guildofstudents.com/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=132053
Aston has been part of 'Fairtrade University' since 2007, therefore ensuring where possible they sell Fairtrade products on campus. This event was held as part of Fairtrade Fortnight to promote products and to raise awareness on campus.
This was Aston universities first ever entire week dedicated to sustainability. The week included events from, 10:10 Turn off Tuesday to Waste- not Wednesday. The event was a real opportunity for staff and students to get more involved with events in and outside of campus.
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/environment/events/go-green-sustainability-week/
Birmingham City University have made many improvements on campus this year to include several new ranges of Fairtrade products from chocolate to cereal bars. These products have been distributed on all of the university’s campus’ and are available in the shops, canteen and in vending machines.
http://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/corporate-information/sustainability/fairtrade
The University of Birmingham are committed to providing students with the facilities to recycle paper, cardboard and plastic. Early this year more facilities were implemented on campus to cater for the increase in recycling rates. This follows the introduction of ‘The waste reduction and recycling group’ that was set up in September 2009.
http://www.environment.bham.ac.uk/waste.shtml
University of Birmingham signed the ‘Universitas 21’ declaration on sustainability. The declaration aims to being universities together to share ideas about efficient environmental campaigns and events to help the earth. From signing the declaration each university is required to develop, publish and monitor targets on campus by introducing and raising sustainability programmes, regional issues, climate conditions and energy sources.
http://www.universitas21.com/document/Sustainability%20Declaration%20(signed).pdf
Aston University are continuing to contribute towards becoming a greener university and have proposed a major campus redevelopment project. The project will take place during 2010 and will aim to include more green space on campus as well as improve the biodiversity on campus.
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/environment/what-were-doing/campus-redevelopment/
Aston university has committed itself to signing up to the ‘10:10 Campaign’ to reduce carbon emissions by 10% from energy and transport during 2010. To help kick start the campaign, Aston university set up a competition to submit the best energy-saving ideas, with the winner receiving £50 vouchers for ‘Ethical Superstore’.
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/environment/what-were-doing/1010/
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