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GO GREEN WEEK 2013
GCU is going green... are you?
 The University is gearing up for five days of environmental action for Go Green Week. People & Planet's annual event on climate change in schools, colleges and universities.
From February 11th to 15th, a packed programme of events and activities will take place across the campus to raise awareness of green issues and showcase solutions for a low-carbon future.
There's everything from an eco-driving grand prix to bike MOTs, cooking demonstrations to competitions.
Glasgow-based businesses have joined forces with GCU too, including, Matthew Algie and Green City Wholefoods who will visit the university along with Arnold Clark, Energy Saving Trust, Shanks and Strathclyde Passenger Transport.
During Go Green Week, staff and students are asked to make simple personal pledges to cut their carbon emissions.
Maybe you'll cycle to the university instead of driving or make every Monday meat free. Perhaps you'll pledge to take shorter, cooler showers, turn the heating down at home or light up your life with LED or energy-saving bulbs.
How about drinking water from the tap instead of a bottle or forgo fast fashion and only buy ethically made, long lasting or second hand clothes for two months?
You could also pledge to eat seasonal and locally-sourced food which can cut your carbon emissions by almost a tonne a year; equivalent to two return flights from London to Glasgow.
People & Planet has teamed up with DoNation to create the Go Green Week pledge site which works like other online sponsorship tools but no money is involved - people donate by doing. At the end of the week, the page will reveal how much carbon the university has saved. And if you submit a photograph relating to your pledge, you'll be entered into a free prize draw.
Here's what's happening throughout the week .
Feb 11 - Mashup Monday
COMPETITION: Starting on Mashup Monday you'll have the opportunity - through the "Crazy About Coffee!" and "Cooking for Your Valentine" competitions - to win prizes to visit Matthew Algie's coffee roastery in Glasgow or shop in John Lewis.
For more info check out the competition page or click to see what else is going on.
. Ethical coffee masterclass with Matthew Algie, Saltire Centre, level one, 10am to 4pm.
Find out more about GCU's triple certified coffee - Fairtrade, Organic and Rainforest Alliance from the independent coffee roaster who launched the UK's first Fairtrade espresso in 1997.
. Love Food Hate Waste, Saltire Centre, level one, 10am to 4pm.
A typical UK household wastes £450 worth of food each year. Visit the staff for tips, ideas and to sign-up for a mini workshop on how to get the most out of your weekly shop.
Visit for tips and ideas and take part in a leftover recipe competition; food waste quiz; bite-sized 20-minute workshop on cooking on a budget and Valentine's Day menu.
. Also in the Saltire Centre, level one, 10am to 4pm:
- Soil Association Scotland stall: Information about the Healthy Eating Partnership at GCU
- Greencity Wholefoods stall: Fairtrade goodies
. Brian Cooks With Quorn: Saltire Centre, ground floor, 10am to 12pm.
Food production and consumption accounts for 20% of the UK's carbon footprint, with meat products having footprints up to 20 times higher than non-meat products. This meat-free cooking demonstration and sampling session will highlight some yummy alternatives.
. Taste the Difference with Encore, refectory, 11.30am to 3pm.
Following on from "Brian Coooks with Quorn", the menu will feature three non-meat dishes and one meat option.
Feb 12 - Travel Light Tuesday
COMPETITION: Eco-Driving Grand Prix with prizes for the eco-efficient drivers (student, staff and departments and schools).
For more info check out the competition page or click to see what else is going on.
. A driving simulator from the Energy Saving Trust (EST) will show you how to optimise the use of your car by driving in a more environmentally-friendly way, helping you to cut costs and reduce your carbon footprint.
. Put your driving to the test Eco Driving Grand Prix, Saltire Centre, ground floor, 12 and 13 February, 10am to 4pm.
Take the wheel of the driving simulator to find out how you can make motoring more eco-friendly. Allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Check out the competition page for more information.
. Bike MOT by Dr Bike / The Bike Station
Staff: 12 Feb
Students: 13 Feb
Outside the ARC.
The mobile mechanical service from Dr Bike will give your wheels the once over in a free bicycle check. Most minor problems can be fixed on the spot with more serious issues diagnosed and a bike MOT provided.
. Travel information, Saltire Centre, level one, 10am to 3pm
Find out about staff and student travel discounts as well as sustainable travel advice from SPT (Strathclyde Passenger Transport), and City Car Club.
. Arnold Clark's Electric Car and City Car Club's hybrid car will be on display on the University concourse outside , Saltire Centre: You can find out more about these vehicles at the stalls in the Saltire Centre foyer.
Feb 13 - Waste Not Wednesday
COMPETITIONS: Upload a funky snapshot of what and how you recycle or guess how many cans are in a bale of compacted drinks cans for a chance to win some prizes.
For more info check out the competition page or click to see what else is going on.
. Encore Rewards Recycling: Refectory and Café Roots, all week.
Receive a cash reward for recycling your cans, plastic bottles and paper cups. Visit the Refectory or Café Roots for more information and demonstrations on this new innovative way to recycle.
. The Cotton Journey, Saltire Centre, level one, 10am to 4pm. Drop by Q&A, 10am to 12pm.
Preview the latest animation from GCU's community engagement project with P5 students from St Monica's Primary School about the impact of the cotton industry.
Also on at the Saltire Centre, level one, 10am to 3pm.
. Recycling at GCU, Saltire mezzanine, 10am to 3pm.
Shanks Waste Solutions show how GCU manages to recycle 80% of its waste.
. Love Food Hate Waste, Saltire mezzanine, 10am to 3pm.
Visit for tips and ideas and take part in a leftover recipe competition; food waste quiz; bite-sized 20-minute workshop on cooking on a budget and Valentine's Day menu.
. Day 2: Eco-Driving Grand Prix, Saltire Centre, ground floor, 10am to 5pm.
. Day 2: Bike MOT, outside the ARC.
Feb 14 - Thrifty Thursday
COMPETITION: Garden at the Heart of the Campus Student Competition launch: Saltire Centre Rooftop Garden, 13:30-14:00 hrs.
For more info check out the competition page or click to see what else is going on.
. The Garden at the Heart of the Campus competition (13:30-14:00 hrs) will give GCU students the opportunity to help create a lasting legacy by being involved in the Saltire rooftop garden redevelopment by suggesting how it could be made a more eco-friendly, sustainable spot that could be used all year round by students, staff and visitors to the university.
. Energy Saving Trust (EST), Students Association, foyer, 10am to 3pm.
Save energy and water. Save money. Save the planet. Visit the stall for practical tips, advice and information on how to cut costs by reducing your energy and water use.
Feb 15 - Pledge Friday
COMPETITION: We need you to help make GCU greener. Pledge to make one climate cutting action for two months, take a photo and upload it to our Facebook page for a chance to win some awesome prizes.
For more info check out the competition page or click to see what else is going on.
. Last chance to make a pledge - do it at the Saltire Centre, the Students Association or on Facebook.
. Plastic Challenge Launch - could you live for a month without plastics? Why not blog about it? Find out more at the plastic challenge blog
Time to create web page: 2h. Time to get access to directory (last year): 237h30m. Well done, Enterprise Information Services!!!
Updated: 18 January, 2013 | Site
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