Do your bit for the environment
Posted: Friday, 28th October 2011
A PROJECT to mobilise staff to be more environmentally-friendly is asking all departments to ‘do their bit’.
Last year 30 departments put forward ‘champions’ and presented ideas on how the University can cut carbon, be more sustainable and save money.
Ahead of the launch of Green Impact on Monday, 31 October, organisers said ideally every department would take part.
“It’s so easy,” says coordinator Robert Croll. “You just need to let us know about things you are doing or changes you’re making – whether it’s turning computers off, or recycling paper, or sharing resources.”
Award ceremony
“You might want to nominate a ’champion’ for your department who will report in to us and then your team could get selected for an award at the end of the year.”
Green Impact began as an idea from the National Union of Students, with MMU one of the early adopters. Its success, allied to a number of other projects under the Let’s Make a Sustainable Planet banner, has contributed hugely to the University shooting to 17th in the UK People and Planet Green League.
Rob and Laura Williams, his fellow Green Impact coordinator, have produced a brochure for staff on how to take part, which includes quick and easy tips on how to make green changes around the office, workshop or laboratory.
“Last year there were an incredible 234 ideas put into place, says Laura. “Many of them were simple and a lot of them were fun things. It doesn’t take much to change behaviour for the better.”
At the end of the year departments are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold status according to the extent of their ‘green impact’.
What could you do?
Last year’s Gold Award was won by the Accommodation Team for a range of recycling, energy reduction actions and even a grow-your-own food scheme and recipe webpage!
Other ideas included:
- scrap-paper only printers (Didsbury Library)
- energy awareness stickers (ICTS)
- using 100% recycled paper (Student Union)
- building noticeboards from recyclables (Finance)
- Fairtrade-only products (Learning and Research Technologies)
Contact the Green Impact team at Robert.croll@mmu.ac.uk or laura.williams@mmu.ac.uk