York gains recognition for reducing carbon footprint

Posted on Wednesday 10 December 2014

The University has achieved a 6.5 percent overall reduction in its carbon emissions over the last three years. Certified with an assessment score of 71 percent, this reflects a commitment to responding to climate change through governance, carbon accounting and carbon management.

Successful certification against the Carbon Trust Standard requires organisations to demonstrate good all-round carbon management performance in their day-to-day operations. This is demonstrated at York through many different staff and student-led schemes.

For staff, a commitment to the green agenda is evidenced through the daily energy and carbon management provided by the University’s own Energy and Environment team. Quarterly Sustainability Key Service Meetings also sees management representatives from major energy-using departments come together to discuss environmental progress and opportunities for improvement.

Working as part of the North East Universities Consortium, substantial investment in energy efficiency and low carbon infrastructure continues to grow, with York adopting and embedding sustainable procurement principles into its activities.

Green impact initiatives for students have also seen success, with the student switch-off campaign and students also being given an opportunity to train as environmental auditors working on sustainability projects such as the Sustainable York Guide.

Many departments and courses are also specifically designed to contribute to the low carbon and sustainability agenda, providing skills and technology reaching far beyond the University boundaries. For example, on-line portals, reduced printing, and use of webinars and audio conferencing all contribute towards the Green Impact programme.

Jon Meacock, Director of Estates and Campus Services and Chair of the Sustainability Key Services Meetings, said: “This reduction in carbon usage is especially pleasing as the University has continued to grow over this period.  We continue to examine ways of reducing our carbon emissions through low carbon technologies, replacing old thermally inefficient buildings and our staff and students making personal changes to reduce their personal energy use."

The Carbon Trust Standard is valid for two years, and certification will be reassessed in 2017.