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Our Performance

Aligning the University’s operations with the principles of sustainability can help us to increase our efficiencies, reduce our costs, and provide an environment within which the day-to-day experiences of students, staff and visitors reflect the University’s commitment to sustainable development.

The University has also received several awards and nominations recently for "exceptional initiatives", "leadership and innovation", "best practice" and "outstanding contribution to sustainable development".

Recent Initiatives

Some of our initiatives so far include:

  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard LogoImplementation of an Environmental Management System and certification to ISO 14001 and BS OHSAS 18001 across the University Campus;
  • Energy efficiency efforts and the development of our Energy, Water and Waste Management Policy, in consultation with Cardiff University Students’ Union and with advice from the Carbon Trust;
  • Waste strategies that include office recycling schemes and responsible disposal guidelines;
  • Efforts to invest in the welfare and quality of life of people working within the University through investments in training and development; through the project and a range of policies relating to equality and diversity, work-life balance and health and safety;
  • The University has undertaken a transport survey to identify opportunities to reduce the climate impact of University-related travel.
  • Increasing procurement of local produce and Fairtrade produce through the University’s Residences and Catering Division, and a Nutrition Policy to raise awareness and actively promote healthy eating;
  • The establishment of a network of ‘Eco Champions’ across the University's schools to promote sustainability initiatives.

We are currently working towards auditing and increasing our efficiencies of water and energy usage, recycling, green procurement, campus maintenance, and biodiversity. A key example of these is the a £1M grant given by the Education Funding Council for Wales to install 1,900 new energy meters, to reach a total of 3,000, and their automation system.

The University is also exploring the potential for alternative energy sources to meet its future energy needs with a reduced impact in terms of climate change.

Carbon Management Plan

The University devised a Carbon Management Plan in 2007 to direct operations both within estates and other administrative departments throughout the University for a 5 year carbon reduction process. The plan is linked on the top right of this page, (correct as of 23 March 2007). An Energy Initiatives Update is also given top right, which describes progress with these initiatives.

Carbon Reduction against 2005/6 baseline (based on 2005/6 carbon factors)

Tonnes

 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11
Electricity26,40420,26820,80420,72920,95020,670
Gas14,06012,31313,06912,89512,52512,498
Total 40,464 32,581 33,873 33,624 33,475 33,168
            
Less emissions for additional buildings and facilities not included in baseline  325 810 1,127 1,189 1,295
       
Net 40,464 32,256 33,063 32,497 32,286 31,873

 

Note:

  1. The above includes all University Residences but does not include carbon emissions included in the SLAs from the NHS.
  2. The Carbon Plan submitted to the Carbon Trust in 2006/7 as part of the Carbon Trust Higher Education Carbon Management Programme set a target that 26, 100 tonnes of carbon would be saved against the 2005/6 baseline. The University has more than met this target.

John Newton, 24 February 2012