Green Gown Awards 2016 – Continuous Improvement – Newcastle University – Finalist

Enough, for all, forever - Collaborative sustainability at Newcastle University

Environmental Sustainability is one of only three societal challenge themes introduced at Newcastle University in 2009, and the University community has been working collaboratively on a journey of continual improvement in sustainability performance across academia, research and the estate. 

The Institute for Sustainability makes an internationally leading contribution across a number of areas including smart grids, energy storage and renewable energy systems. Student led sustainability projects are engaging students with practical sustainability initiatives benefitting both student and local communities, and the University continues to excel in embedding sustainability into day to day operations.

As a result the University has contained carbon emissions, despite significant growth in the estate, reduced water consumption by over a third since 2005/6, reduced the proportion of staff driving to work alone from 40% in 2004 to 16% in 2014 and recycled over 90% of general waste in each of the last five years.

Top 3 learnings

1 Harness the interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise within the University setting and create opportunities for sharing knowledge between communities and application of research to the campus environment.

2 Involve the student community to apply their creativity and enthusiasm, and enable opportunities to equip students with key sustainability skills to take forward in their chosen career path

3 Share the achievements of staff and students across the organisation to gather support and gain momentum for further positive change

CO2t Savings: 20,000 tCO2 
Actual/Estimated: Actual
No. of yrs: To date

Videos

• Enough, for all, forever - Collaborative sustainability at Newcastle University (click to hide)