Keele University tops CRC league table

25th November 2011

Keele University in Staffordshire is one of just 22 businesses to top the first ever government Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) league tables announced this month.

CRC is a mandatory government scheme launched in April 2010 to improve energy efficiency and cut emissions in large public and private sector organisations. Keele University was the only higher education institution to get top marks in the table which ranks participants in terms of their early action to manage their energy.

Keele has a strong record of addressing and responding to the environmental and sustainable agenda. It was amongst the first universities to be awarded Carbon Trust Standard and has since developed a year-on-year commitment to reducing CO2 levels.

Professor Nick Foskett, Vice-Chancellor at Keele University, explains: “Developing a university that is environmentally aware, and has a sustainable campus community, is one of Keele University’s key priorities, so we’re thrilled to be at the top of the CRC league table. Nevertheless, it’s worth remembering that our commitment to being a truly sustainable organisation is far from complete. The next five years will be a real test for the institution and we have extensive plans in place to continue building on this success, including plans to introduce renewables on campus.”

In the past year alone, Keele University has saved over 1.5 thousand tonnes of CO2, increased its recycling to 34% and introduced a sustainable catering policy, which aims to increase the sales of Fairtrade goods, reduce food waste per student, increase the purchase of seasonal vegetables and reduce water and energy usage. All new build and refurbishment projects have also been designed to achieve BREEAM ‘very good’ status, including a new day nursery and the development of a multi-million pound sustainability hub which launched this autumn.

Iain Patton, CEO of the EAUC, notes “It is great to see universities such as Keele getting recognised for their efforts in reducing their carbon emissions in the CRC performance league table. While it has some way to go it is showing that universities and colleges can no longer ignore energy management. The CRC league table demonstrates that reducing carbon emissions has to be firmly on the agendas of senior management – they simply cannot afford not to address it.

By implementing energy saving technologies and promoting positive behaviour to staff and students can not only save institutions money but is essential for the future success of their organisations. With over 120 institutions in the league table, the results show that there is still a long way to go for the education sector and highlights that poor performance can no longer be ignored. For the sector to really take the lead they need to monitor and measure their sustainability credentials and be benchmarked against one another. Currently, the CRC league table is limiting as there is not enough representation from universities and colleges. The LiFE Index (www.thelifeindex.org.uk) - developed by the sector, for the sector – will provide the sector-wide benchmarking required to be truly effective, giving institutions the tools to take a holistic approach to reduce their impact and ensure their learners are fully equipped for a sustainable future.”

Providing information and a full programme of projects for the community and students alike, the Sustainability Hub is a focus for Keele’s extensive academic and research focus on environment and sustainability.

The Hub houses meeting facilities, a lecture theatre, exhibition space, study areas and a fair trade coffee lounge where members of the public can drop in to find out more information. It is also a living example of sustainability in action, with solar PV, solar thermal, ground source heat pumps, biomass heating and rainwater recycling, all contributing to make the building as green as possible.

The project aims to be an inspiring place for people of all ages to learn, with resources and outreach activities to help children, homeowners and businesses. It is already involved in four key projects at the university, including a group of Keele students who are working towards making their student accommodation sustainable, an outreach initiative called ‘Grey Matters’ which engages the older community in a series of lectures and interactive workshops on sustainable living and the development of a ‘green’ children’s centre in the Congo.

For more information visit www.keele.ac.uk