University Green Week 2010

Tuesday, 02 November 2010

This week is Green Week! The week marks the start of the University's commitment to reduce our carbon footprint by 35% by 2015/2016. It is also a chance for you to get involved with a wide range of events and activities, and to celebrate our green successes so far.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Gordon Marshall will be officially launching the week at a special event on Monday 8 November. Following a light lunch in the Cole Museum at 12.30pm, staff are invited to join a litter picking procession, lead by a junk percussion' band. (Please email eest@reading.ac.uk if you would like to attend one or both parts of the event.)

Other events throughout the week include a bicycle bonanza' where you can speak to a range of cycling specialists about cycling to work and even take part in Cycling Proficiency lessons, and a chance to see some of the many environmental wonders around campus on a walk lead by the Grounds Maintenance team.

There are also public events taking place. On Wednesday 10 November Professor Nigel Arnell, Director of the Walker Institute for Climate Change Research, will deliver a fascinating and accessible lecture entitled Climate Change: the science explained'.

Nigel Hodgson, the University's Energy Manager said: "The creation of the Environment, Energy and Sustainability Team and the success of last year's inaugural Green Week have made a significant green' impact but we need to do more. The University is investing in green technology in order to achieve carbon savings but individual behaviour will have a major impact on our ability to reach the target of 35%.

"In a recent experiment in the Carrington building, the University saved 25% on the building's electricity bill by switching off lights, computers and other electrical equipment. If all of the University's 4,500 computers were turned off at night, we could save up to 250,000 a year.

"We hope to add to our 200 plus environmental champions' which have changed the University's environment for the better and helped shrink our carbon footprint. Other successes over the last year include the fact that the University now diverts 40% of its waste away from landfill."

For the full programme of events, please visit the EEST website.

In the following audio clip, Professor Tony Downes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, explains the pressing need to improve the Universitys environmental performance and announces a major University-wide project the Higher Education Carbon Management Programme - which will see the University, staff and students, work towards reducing its carbon footprint by 35% by 2015/2016. Look out for more information during Green Week.

Carbon management

Download the Carbon management audio file (right-click to save)