20 September 2011

Dundee students keen to go green

Hundreds of students from the University of Dundee have pledged to cut their carbon footprint by signing up for the Student Green Challenge.

Through this Challenge, students are being asked to take on six simple actions that will save them both carbon and money. The project was launched at the University earlier this month with a cookery demonstration showing how to make some simple, low-carbon meals, and a treasure hunt introducing new students to some eco-friendly locations in the town centre.

The project, run as part of the Community Carbon Exchange, will also be rolled out to Dundee College and the University of Abertay as well. More than 300 individual students, living in around 100 flats and residences, from the University of Dundee have signed up in the past couple of weeks.

'The project has proven very popular at Dundee, and we’re delighted that so many students have signed up to the Challenge,' said Trudy Cunningham, Environment & Sustainability Officer at the University. 'A lot of students will be taking part, and we hope even more will get involved as a result of seeing their flatmates and friends participating and showing them how easy it is to make small changes.'

The challenges include reducing food waste and turning computers off when they are not in use. The idea is that by educating people to make minor lifestyle changes they will be empowered to significantly reduce their environmental impact.

'It’s amazing how much carbon can be saved by such simple actions, and the students have been really enthusiastic about the project,' said Susan Horsman from the Community Carbon Exchange. 'The Student Green Challenge is part of a wider project, which is aiming to save Dundee residents a total of 2,755 tonnes of carbon per year.'

More information is available by contacting Susan on 01382 501730 or by emailing susan@solarcitiesscotland.org.uk.

Notes to Editors:
The Community Carbon Exchange is an initiative led by Dundee-based charity, Solar Cities Scotland. The project invites groups of residents and workers in the Maryfield and Coldside areas to join their friends, neighbours, businesses and local groups in taking on simple, practical actions to cut their carbon emissions. The project works with community groups, schools, churches, colleges and universities.

Website: www.solarcitiesscotland.org.uk.

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