Environmental Aspects and Impacts of Aberdeen University
Students’ Association (Reviewed Oct 2012)
Aberdeen University Students’ Association (henceforth AUSA) has a range ofservices which impact upon the environment. This paper outlines the most significant environmental impacts of the organisation and demonstrates AUSA’s commitment to improvement on environmentalperformance. Good practice where relevant will be outlined as will areas for improvement.
Transport
AUSA has a significant impact on the environment in terms of the distance travelledby societies and staff of the organisation. This comes in the form of staff travel towork, staff travel to events, student societies’ travel, sports club travel and also student travel ingeneral. AUSA is located in the North East of Scotland. Distances between cities and towns in Scotland are relatively larger than in England and Wales. To give some context, the distance by road between Aberdeen and the following locations is, Edinburgh 128miles, Perth 83 miles and Glasgow 159 miles. Distances to locations in England are, Manchester 355 miles and London 543 miles. Sports clubs are required to travel in the Scotland region for away fixtures in the first instance, however the more successful clubs maybe required to travel to any area of the UK.
Staff travel is relatively small-scale in comparison to the larger student population. Staff rarely travel by air to meetings or events and do not travel by air if the distance is below 400 miles. A University lift-share scheme is available to staff (and students). In 2011 AUSA began monitoring staff travel mileage. The figures from this will be used as a baseline for reducing the distance travelled in 2012.
AUSA promotes positive transport messages through the student Becycle society. Becycle run free bicycle lending workshops, equipping the student population with affordable bikes and knowhow for fixing them. Becycle, the University Travel Plan Coordinator and a local council organisation Nestrans, have provided bike safety training, information and free bike trials to the student community. Cycle storage is available throughout the campus and AUSA are working with the University to improve cycle facilities on campus. The AUSA Climate Change Projects provides information and advice to student regarding sustainable travel.
Energy
Energy use in buildings constitutes a significant aspect of the Student Association’senvironmental impact due to the carbon dioxide emission associated with energyusage. Smart metering has been introduced across many buildings on the campus and AUSA is now able to obtain a figure for energy use (heat and electricity). This is used to calculate the energy carbon footprint on a yearly basis. These figures are made available to members via the website (currently under construction).
In 2012 ‘green’ objectives were introduced by the General Manager as a means of encouraging behaviour change amongst staff. Staff are encouraged to bring forth and act on their ideas for energy saving through these green objectives.
AUSA works with the University to improve the energy efficiency of the building. This includes a once a year meeting with the Heating Controller to set optimal heating times for the building. AUSA has a very good relationship with the University Utilities manager and meets with them regularly. This has led to the recent installation of TRV’s throughout the building. The AUSA Climate Change Project and the Utilities Manager co-facilitate Carbon Conversations workshops as a means of encouraging behaviour change amongst the student community.
AUSA has undertaken a number of audits to assess its energy efficiency, the most comprehensive of which was an Acorn audit in 2011. Some of the recommendations for this have been fed into the AUSA action plan for 2012.
Waste
AUSA has an environmental impact in the form of waste that is generated fromButchart. The impactsof this include contributions to landfill sites and emissionsproduced from degrading waste.
Recycling is promoted to staff withpaper recycling provisions in each office as well as staff room and communal areas.AUSA encourages electronic communication where possible to minimisewaste paper and double sided printing is encouraged. Paper is supplied by the University and this is made from 75%recycled materials. Glass, plastic and can recycling are available in communal areas of the building. AUSA disposes of WEEE through the University bi-annual WEEE collection. A chemical lift also takes place at this time. Cardboard can also be recycled on the premises.
Image
AUSA recognises that it influences students by the image it projects to its members. The students of Aberdeen University are a transient community who willhelp shape what direction society takes in the future. AUSA is aware that by presenting a positiveenvironmental and ethical stance in how it carries out its services this can have apositive impact on the environment in terms of how its members can replicate goodbehaviour. AUSA projects a particularly positive image through its student led societies which include Becycle, Veg Bag Cooperative, Veg Garden, Shared Planet vegan cafe and wholefood shop as well as the activities of the Environment and Ethics Committee which include student wildlife garden. In 2010 AUSA also sought funding for Climate Change Project which delivers a number of student facing projects including Swap Shop, climate friendly cookery and Carbon Conversation groups. AUSA could improve its image to students by developing its commercial cafe towards more environmentally conscious principles and by reducing the waste produced through events.
Procurement
Purchases of new equipment and consumables for the organisation have an impacton the environment in relation to depletion of natural resources and carbon emissions from production. AUSA recognises that ethicalprocurement can have a positive impact upon the environment. Alfie’s cafe withinAUSA use Fairtrade tea and coffee and recent considerations have been made for the use of Vegware in the cafe. A wider range of Fairtrade products are now available in the cafe. AUSA has a Fairtrade policy which has recently been strengthened by a mandate to support lobby the university to affiliate to the Workers Rights Consortium. In 2012 AUSA is developing a procurement policy to replace the existing minimum efficiency guidelines.
Water
Water coolers have beenpermanently removed from the organisation and students are encouraged to makeuse of water fountains.AUSA lobbied the University in 2010 to install water fountains across campus, there are now five available. Fault reporting stickers are next to sinks in the building to encourage students to report dripping taps.
Aims
AUSA aims to reduce its environmental impact by establishing baselines, monitoring and setting targets for reduction. This can be done for the following; staff travel, gas, electricity, paper, mixed recyclate and landfill. In 2012 AUSA obtained figures for its heat and energy use and landfill waste. Going forward AUSA aims to set targets for reducing these amounts.
Student and staff participation
By continuing the positive work in raising awareness of the importance ofsustainability within the organisation, it is hoped AUSA can embed the concept intoevery decision and development that is undertaken. AUSA hope that by making itsenvironmental impacts and aims explicit it can serve as a basis for further action.AUSA will continue to support and influence the University of Aberdeen to lead onsustainability and environmental issues to create a more sustainable campus.Positive collaboration with the University’s Environment Office will be maintained tohelp AUSA take on its responsibility as an environmental students association.Positive collaboration and engagement with AUSA’s Environment and EthicsCommittee will be continued to gauge students’ views on environmental issues.All current staff and management are aware of AUSA’s commitment to acting in a sustainable mannerand all new staff will be inducted to appreciate the values that AUSA hopes its staffshare.AUSA commits to continuous improvement on environmental issues
Reviewed November 2011