Author: Dan Clayton

Over recent years the University of Lincoln has been a keen supporter of People & Planet as an organisation and their “Universities Green League” (now University League) in particular. The Green League has promoted sustainability in the Higher Education sector and their work on sweatshops and the fossil free campaign has been informative and inspiring.

However, along with many other sector bodies and Higher Education Institutions we have had increasing concerns that the areas covered in the Green League no longer fully represent sustainability in a modern university.

Through-out the summer of 2014 there was extensive debate within the Higher Education sustainability sector over the Green League. The Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC) and the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) both held surveys of their members to gather views on the Green League. The results were published in the following link:

www.eauc.org.uk/results_of_the_eauc_member_poll_on_the_2014_gre

Following communications between EAUC, AUDE and People & Planet the following joint statement was issued by EAUC & AUDE

http://www.eauc.org.uk/people_planet_green_league

As a result of the issues highlighted by AUDE and EAUC the University did not to submit a response to People & Planet in 2014. The University plans to work with AUDE, EAUC, other HEIs and People & Planet to improve the Green League for future years and ensure that it remains as a driver to sustainability in the HE Sector.

The University of Lincoln has been awarded “Green Level” in an accreditation assessment by the Investors in the Environment organisation. The award recognises the progress that the University has made in reducing its environmental impact and in developing systems to promote sustainable development.

Investors in the Environment (iiE) is a nationwide environmental accreditation scheme designed to help businesses save money and the environment by improving their energy efficiency and reducing their environmental impact. There are three levels of accreditation – Bronze, Silver and Green. The University has been awarded the highest Green Level. The Investors in the Environment (iiE) scheme, which has been adopted by more than 1,000 businesses across the UK, has three levels – Bronze, Silver and Green.

The accreditation audit took place in October and looked at issues such as environmental policy, resource use, sustainability targets and objectives, action plans for improvements and the measurement of performance. The accreditation report stated “The University of Lincoln is an example of sustainability on a large scale with various departments and student accommodation located on a centralised estate.  They have already implemented various resource efficiency improvements in order to meet the demands of a growing student population as well as meet 2020 targets”.

 

The 2013 Staff Travel Survey begins this week. The survey will be used to inform the University’s Travel Plan and to provide travel statistics. For a chance to win a Halfords £10 gift card complete the survey and leave an e-mail address.

The Travel Survey can be accessed at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SyHqnCvQVKu5BT7xDjnZywx0-usiYdQNJ4K9b0pOeIA/viewform

The University Travel Plan has a requirement for up to date information of how our staff and students travel to the University. For the annual return to the Higher Education Statistics Agency the University is required to collect information on travel by staff and students to the University.

All information collected from this survey will be treated in the strictest of confidence and will only be used in the development of the Travel Plan and associated travel statistics. Any information collected will not be provided to third parties and will not be used to identify individuals.

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