Green Gown Awards 2011 - Carbon Reduction - Coventry University - Winner

Coventry University Carbon Challenge

The Coventry University Carbon Challenge began in response to our corporate carbon reduction targets but has now evolved into an inter-building competition with eagerly anticipated monthly reports and quarterly league tables which have empowered students and staff across the University to take responsibility for their own electrical consumption and thereby saved over 1000 tonnes of carbon in two years.

Faced with the challenge to cut the university’s annual carbon emissions by 500 tonnes by 2015, Coventry University Environment Team actively engaged students and staff to lower their electricity use. To achieve this they employed, among other things, an inter-building competition to promote healthy rivalry while influencing students and staff to take responsibility for their electricity consumption. The Carbon Challenge scheme has achieved significant savings to the university during its two years of operation. This includes 2 million kWh of electricity, 1100 tonnes of carbon, and £200,000 saving from the university’s electricity bill and £13,200 off its Carbon Reduction Commitment liability.

Videos

• Video (click to hide)