Green gown success for New Teaching Block

The University's efforts to cut its carbon footprint have been recognised in the latest Green Gown Awards, held each year to promote sustainable development within the higher and further education sectors.

The New Teaching Block, which was opened by The Queen last summer, has won this year's award for energy and water efficiency.

The £15 million building was designed so that it can be heated re-using low grade heat from the University's Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant. It also uses solar shading, heat recovery systems, intelligent lighting and water controls.

The New Teaching Block is the second university building to find success in the prestigious Green Gown Awards. The Queen Mother Building was highly commended last year for sustainable construction. It also picked up The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Scotland's Sustainability Award in 2006.

Gordon Davies, Head of Estates and a member of the University's Environmental Task Group, welcomed news of the University's most recent win.

"We are delighted that the New Teaching Block has been recognised as this year's most intelligent building in the UK in terms of its use of energy and water," he said.

"Investment in technical solutions such as this complements the work of the University's Environment Task Group, which has a clear focus on reducing our consumption of precious resources, reducing waste and encouraging everyone to consider the environment as they go about their daily business."

The Environment Task Group was set up last year to improve the University's environmental efforts and coordinate the work already being done. Led by Professor Colin Reid, an environmental law specialist within the School of Law and University Secretary David Duncan, the group includes staff and students.

Its key focus areas are energy and utilities usage, waste management and recycling, green travel and fair trade.

Since it began, work has been underway to raise environmental awareness amongst staff and students and encourage recycling and energy saving. As a result nearly 1000 paper recycling bins have been put in place across the campus, posters offering recycling advice have been issued and departments throughout the university have been urged to switch to double-sided and network printers.

Three new aluminium, glass and paper recycling points are also being introduced to the campus. They can be found at the bottom of the Tower drive, at the back of the Wellcome Trust and a third near DUSA.

An environmental newsletter offering advice, news and energy saving hints is also being planned as is a Green Travel Survey and to assess the numbers of vehicles coming onto the campus.

"We are already doing a range of things to cut down our carbon footprint including recycling envelopes, paper and toner cartridges," said Trudy Cunningham, Environmental Task Group member. "We use recycled paper for hand towels and toilet rolls. Also we are introducing recycled paper for all general printing.

"We were also the first university in Scotland to have a CHP plant. This was installed in 1996 and due to its efficiency we are exempt from paying Climate Change Levy. Also the two tier parking permit system has had a significant effect on parking because people opting for the pay as you go permit don't feel compelled to bring their car in every day.

"The new car park at Heathfield has never been full since the day it opened so there are plenty of car parking spaces on the campus."

She stressed, however, that more can always be done to make the University even greener.

"The Green Travel survey will be looking at single car journeys to help us decide how best to reduce them and we really have to get the message out to staff and students that it would be a great help if they switch things off. The saving from one monitor alone can run into about £90 a year.

"We'll also be putting up posters around the campus to encourage energy saving. They have been designed by children at St Joseph's Primary School who have shown a real interest in the environment. We're hoping their bright, colourful posters will remind everyone to switch off and save energy whenever they can."