Green Gown Awards 2014 - Sustainability Champion Award - Keith Holmes - Finalist

Facilities Manager, School of Art and Design, Coventry University

Over the last six years, Keith Holmes has been Environmental Champion within Coventry University’s School of Art and Design and has dedicated hundreds of hours to undertake a wide range of projects and activities to help highlight environmental and sustainable issues amongst staff and students within the School.

Keith has helped pioneer a whole raft of initiatives and projects within the School, which has helped to double the amount of waste the School recycles, as well as yielding significant savings in water and energy (two of the three buildings Keith manages have reduced energy consumption by at least 26% during his time in post).

This September, Keith has been chosen to support a group of students on a 10 day stay in Jordan supporting The Majid AlSadi Changing Lives Programme, which involves undertaking a number of projects to rejuvenate the physical, educational and cultural experience for Jordanian children.

Top 3 learnings

1 Keep going – only through a real drive to overcome barriers, challenging the status quo and not being deterred have successes been realised
2 It’s contagious – one person has influenced and encouraged others to join in, forming groups and networks to grow and develop initiatives
3 Overall – individual enthusiasm and passion about sustainability is not to be underestimated and can make a significant difference.

Videos

• Keith Holmes Facilities Manager, School of Art and Design, Coventry University (click to hide)