Jamie Agombar, Ethical & Environmental Manager, NUS Services Bethan Harper, Communications Officer, University of Bristol Green Impact – A model for engaging departments

It started here! Presentation on Sound Impact Martin Wiles saw potential for adapting

What is Green Impact? A locally-run departmental accreditation scheme Tackles common bad practices / encourages good For all types of environmental impact For all types of departments Bottom up - Any member of staff / student can lead Empowers environmental champions Digital workbook / auditing / awards / good practice booklet Provides a framework for taking action A race to the top Gets people to buy into Sustainability Team initiatives

Summer 2008 Agreed pilot - for 15 departments Funded by University of Bristol Departmental audits established common bad practices: - Copier paper - TFL bulbs - Personal kettles - Lights on unnecessarily / awareness - Vacation shutdown - Bottle water - Fairtrade

The Green Impact Awards are an environmental initiative run by a consortium of interested parties led by the Energy and Environmental Management Unit, the University of Bristol Union and NUS Services

The workbook 20 bronze criteria (105 pts) 15 silver criteria (93 pts) 100 bonus criteria (427 pts) Special awards: - Innovation (25 pts) - Best energy saving idea (25 pts) - Environmental hero (25 pts) - Site Services recycling award - Site Services award for energy efficiency Total 700 points

Standards and awards Bronze = 20 bronze criteria Silver = 15 silver criteria plus 150 bonus points Gold = Top three scoring departments Special awards: - Innovation - Best energy saving idea - Environmental hero - Site Services recycling award - Site Services award for energy efficiency

Criteria categories Reducing waste Reusing waste Recycling waste Waste legislation Electricity - Awareness Electricity - Air conditioning Electricity - Lighting Electricity - Appliances and other equipment Electricity - Switching off

Heating Water Travel Procurement Biodiversity and community Greening teams, action plans and results Departmental embedding and communications Wider communications and impact Special awards

Especially useful criteria Environmental champion External estates contact Open ended energy saving ideas Carbon audits!

What does the workbook look like? Workbook

Launch and communications Managed locally CUSP placements It does take time to do it properly Communications: - Brand - Webpage - Deputy VC - Payslips - Meetings Support once they take the plunge

Sign-ups 51 departments!! 2,500 members of staff

Auditors 30 volunteer auditors trained in Feb 2009 All Bronze and Silver departments will be audited Audits taking place March and April Auditing essential, rare, high scoring criteria

Carbon auditors S.006 – Basic energy audit 35 volunteer auditors trained in Jan 2009 Carbon Academy training 10 audits completed to date 142 recommendations: - 50 Lighting - 48 equipment - 25 heating - 10 air conditioning / ventilation - 5 windows - 4 awareness

Bethan Harper – Communications Officer, Sustainability Department, University of Bristol

Workbooks back 46 returned 11 Silver 26 Bronze 9 Working towards accreditation

Statistics 100% have energy-awareness stickers in majority of offices 87% have identified ten main greening opportunities 50% have a greening team, met in the last 6 months 33% reminded staff how they can recycle CDs 20% taken one or more initiative to sustain / encourage biodiversity in last 12-months 13% have run own water-saving campaign in last 6 months 0% have calculated total carbon footprint for business miles last financial year

Done as a result of GIA? 76% (31 dept’s) induct all new staff on environment 73% (29 dept’s) created vacation shutdown plan 60% (26 dept’s) switched all A4 white copier paper over 45% (10 dept’s) have refreshed energy saving comm’s 35% (16 dept’s) switched to Fairtrade

Race to the top Banning air travel Websites Green Impact communications

Awards ceremony Mid-June Film being made by student film society Give out certificates / awards Deputy VC there Inviting all participants and key decision makers

Key success factors A good steering group Needs to be seen as voluntary and bottom-up All about empowering - need to reach the right people Criteria need to be inclusive Scheme needs to be fair A ‘soft’ accreditation scheme. Spirit of the criteria. Supportive and a bit of hand-holding Helps if it is fun! Senior management backing reaches different audiences Long-term commitment; raising the bar

Learning points Check, and check again, the criteria Need to resource well in terms of time Trial more involvement by students’ union 10% signed up but failed to submit. Not sure why (survey pending)

Benefits Start the journey for some The opportunity to achieve! Celebrate what is already happening Get departments to buy in to your environmental programmes Cost savings Environmental benefits and behaviour change Drive the University to next level Raise profile internally and externally Build bridges between departments Help with employability

Next steps Next year at Bristol… Roll out to 10 HEI’s 2009/10 Developing a tiered package: - Based on size / number of departments - Different options (workbook, training, full, etc.) - In partnership with students’ union If interested for 2009/10 please leave your contact details

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