14 January 2011

Green Map to encourage staff and students to do their bit for the environment

The University of Dundee has developed a 'Green Map' to help students and staff do their bit for the environment.

The map, available in electronic form on the University's website, shows where recycling points, wildflower sites, bicycle lockers and parking facilities, and areas of greenery can be found on campus.

By clicking on the relevant icon, the map reveals which items can be recycled at each recycling point. The map will be expanded as more and more recycling sites and other eco-friendly facilities are installed, such as internal recycling points which are scheduled to be rolled out across all buildings on the main city campus during 2011.

Students who have just matriculated at the University have also been taken on green tours of the campus in the past week by Environment & Sustainability Officer Trudy Cunningham, who has been pointing out where recycling and bike parking facilities and interesting natural sites can be found.

'We are trying to get the sustainability message across to students from the moment they begin their studies,' she said.

'The Green Map is important because it lets them, at a glance, find out where they can recycle or enjoy the greenery on campus, or whether there is a suitable place for them to secure their bike near the building they are going to.

'The students have been hugely supportive and have also driven some of the changes themselves. A new recycling point will be installed outside the Students Union at the request of student representatives who sit on our Environmental Taskforce. We also want them to embrace a healthy lifestyle and this is why we promote cycling as a way of cutting carbon emissions, saving money and getting fit.

'We've found that both students and staff are supportive of these measures once they know about them, but things like recycling points are not always immediately apparent. For that reason, we hope they take the time to go online and check out the Green Map.'

'As we introduce more measures and facilities to help the environment, we will update the map to reflect these changes. We included things like wildflower areas to encourage students and staff to think about things like biodiversity and the importance of supporting the environment.'

The University of Dundee Green Map can be viewed at www.dundee.ac.uk/general/campusmap/.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277