News
New Waste Straegy
3 October 2011
From today, 3 October 2011, recycle bins, known as Tree Huggers will start to be placed on all floors. Open plan areas where there are a number of staff working will have the Tree Huggers in their office. Other rooms with just a couple of staff will have access to Tree Huggers in the corridors and circulation areas.
Read all about it here
RELAXATION CYCLE & CHAT AREA
Students take advantage of the newly placed excercise cycles on the ground floor of the Saltire Centre. The cycles give students and staff, who don't have the time to go over to the ARC for a workout, a chance to keep fit whislt relaxing with their friends.
The on-board computer and display is powered up when you pedal the bike and does not use any mains electricity.
If you think this is something that should be rolled out in other buildings in the University contact arc@gcu.ac.uk
AppleGreen awarded CIC Start grant for wireless sensor project
06 July 2011
GLASGOW Caledonian University is working with AppleGreen Homes to develop a low cost wireless sensor network system for a new sustainable housing development at the BRE Innovation Park in Motherwell.
AppleGreen Homes has been awarded a grant for the feasibility study in the fourth round of the CIC Start Online competition.
The grant will allow AppleGreen Homes to develop and install a wireless sensor system into its homes. The system will measure energy inputs and outputs and analyse the real time energy performance of the house, helping to create a cost-effective solution for reducing fuel poverty - a significant issue for many people due to rising energy costs.
GCU’s Pete Barrie, of the School of Engineering and Computing, has expertise in Pervasive Computing and Wireless Sensor Networks. He is working on a wireless sensor system which will memorise the occupancy and activity patterns of the house, and switch heating to appropriate levels. Data can be sent to the home owner’s mobile phone and can also trigger intruder alerts.
CIC Start Online, led by Glasgow Caledonian University, aims to embed sustainable building design and refurbishment into practice. The project assists Scottish small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and test innovations at testing facilities of the project partners’ institutions.
The grants, which are of a value up to £5000, are awarded to evaluate the feasibility of an interdisciplinary approach to a market led problem.
Alan Wallace, MD of AppleGreen Homes, said: “This is Glasgow Caledonian at their best. They have made a highly useful technology both simple and available to all. This system listens to the beating heart of your home and protects it, you, and the environment.”
Doctor’s orders are to get on your bike
GCU really geared up for Team Green Britain Bike Week this month when Dr Bike paid a visit to the campus to provide a free bike check-up for anyone cycling to work.
Setting up clinic outside the Arc on Thursday June 23, the mobile mechanic was on-hand to offer cyclists their free consultation. The service forms part of an ongoing initiative by the Bike Station which aims to promote regular cycling and to reward cyclists.
Within moments of arriving on campus, Dr Bike had already attracted attention, with a group of eager cyclists quickly forming a queue.
Danielle Thomas, from the Eye Clinic, was one of the first customers. She said: “I was impressed with the service Dr Bike provided and was very thankful for the free MOT on my bike. Anything that encourages people to cycle to work and get out on their bike is a good thing.”
Another pleased customer, Kenny Munro from the School of Health, added: “The guys were very helpful despite being extremely busy and they replaced my back brake blocks and cable for free. Excellent service. Hopefully they can visit more often.”
Head of Campus Services Therese Fraser commented: “This is a free service to GCU, thanks to the Climate Challenge Fund. It’s a great incentive to get a bit of exercise, do your bit for the environment and get a free bike check-up.”
GCU already participates in the Cycle to Work scheme, where a salary sacrifice scheme allows staff to hire cycles and cycling equipment, which can be purchased for a nominal sum at the end of the hire agreement. Responding to requests, GCU has recently doubled the capacity of on-campus cycle racks by installing new racks at the front of the George Moore building and the Arc, bringing the total capacity to 60.
Team Green Britain Bike Week is the UK’s biggest mass participation cycling event, which aims to get more people cycling, more often. This year’s Bike Week ran from 18 – 26 June.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s EcoMan!
GCU’s environmental superhero EcoMan delighted pupils at Wellington Academy in Ayr when he flew in for World Environment Day.
Opening the event, EcoMan explained to pupils how he is fighting to save the planet by encouraging everyone to recycle, save energy, be eco-friendly and look after the world. He also judged a sandcastle competition, visited a local park which pupils have been helping to maintain and took part in various activities, including eco-fashion, recycling and litter picking.
Wendy Rigg, Junior School Eco Coordinator at Wellington Academy, says: “EcoMan was a huge success! Having him join us on this important day has made a huge impact on the children and has motivated everyone to take our good work into the community and beyond.”
EcoMan was officially launched this year at GCU’s Love Your Planet Day, and has since worked tirelessly with the university community to raise awareness of GCU’s sustainability agenda and wider environmental issues. Find out more about EcoMan by following him on Twitter or adding him as a friend on Facebook (search for EcoMan Caledonian).
To sustainability…and beyond!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Ecoman…GCU’s very own environmental superhero!
Launched at this week’s Love Your Planet day, which celebrated all things green at GCU, EcoMan pledged to do everything in his power to help the university meet its 2014 target of reducing its carbon footprint by 20%. He then delighted staff and students by taking time to visit social areas, offices and lecture theatres, giving advice on how everyone can do their bit to make a difference to the environment.
Says EcoMan: “Saving energy is not a one man job. We all have the power to make a difference… I want to prove that this is no Emission Impossible, this is Emission Possible!”
Love Your Planet day was well attended by staff and students. The event was opened by Alex Hill, the Met Office’s Chief Advisor to government in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Previously Head of the Met Office in London, Alex presented television weather forecasts for a number of years. He gave a fascinating and insightful speech on ‘Climate Change: Why Bother?’ considering the main arguments and the impact on modern society, plus some worrying news about Glasgow's future climate.
Advice, information and giveaways were available from a wide variety of stalls, including representatives from Dell, Scottish Power, SPT, the Met Office, the Fairtrade Foundation, Toshiba and GCU’s Caledonian Environment Centre and the GCU Sustainability Team. The Students’ Association manned stalls from RSPB, Glasgow’s One World Shop, the student-run Ethical & Environmental Society, an on-site recycling stall and a chance to buy your own tree.
Annette Frew, who works in the university’s Organisational Development was present at the day. She commented: “It’s brilliant – there’s so much on this year. I especially liked the buy your own tree stall and of course the free chocolates! I’ve been particularly inspired by the SPT stall and their travel route map to try and get back into cycling to work.”
In just two years, GCU has gained several notable environmental accolades and awards. It was the first Scottish university to achieve the Silver EcoCampus award and in the same week, had its Carbon Management Plan approved by the Carbon Trust. GCU also placed second amongst Scottish universities in the People & Planet Green League 2010, climbing 79 places from 104 to 25 - the biggest leap out of all Scottish universities and won the Herald Society Environmental Initiative of the Year Award 2010.
Make your pledge
To celebrate the launch of EcoMan, GCU has set up a pledge prize draw for students and staff. All you need to do is go to this link and pick one thing that you think you could do to make a difference to the planet. Your details will then be entered into a draw for a special prize.
click here to see the photo reel
video pledges
Find out what EcoMan’s been up to by following him on Facebook and Twitter (simply search EcoMan Caledonian).
Recycling in the Saltire Centre
Recycle bins have been placed on the 3rd, 2nd, 1st and ground floors of the Saltire Centre. Students and staff will be able to place plastic bottles, cans, glass and paper in seperate bins.
Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving the environment. Did you know that:
- 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
- 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
- 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
- 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.
The Glasgow House
The GCU Sustainability Team visited the Glasgow House on Wednesday 2 December 2010 and were very impressed by the technologies in place to create a very sustainable home with very low energy bills.
The Glasgow Housing Association
have teamed up with architects PRP and City Building to build four prototype houses which feature high standards of insulation, coupled with low energy running costs and simple technology.
  
   
(photos courtesy of
Bob McInally, City of Glasgow College, Riverside Campus). Click here to view more
video promo of the Glasgow House
Key features contributing to the low energy bills include:
- High levels of insulation in both forms of construction
- Windows and sun rooms to suit orientation to capture the energy of the sun, with details to avoid overheating
- Simple forms of construction for ease of construction and to minimise heat loss and use of energy
- Off-site prefabricated roof and floor panels to speed up construction
- Locally-sourced or assembled materials including windows, pre-manufactured floor and roof cassettes, plus timber kits and kitchens from RSBi in Springburn
- Usable insulated roof space to provide room in the attic at minimum cost
- Efficient heating system and user-friendly controls
- Solar thermal panels on the roof to contribute to water heating
- Educating residents on how best to benefit from special features of their homes.
The Glasgow House was officially launched in March 2010 at the Chartered Institute of Housing (Scotland) Annual Conference at the Glasgow SECC.
The University will be running tours on a monthly basis from February 2011. The tour of the site lasts approximately 1 hour and you are away from the University for a maximum of 2 hours. As numbers are limited to 14 per visist please book as soon as you can. For further information contact Jim McQueen or call x8070.
GCU wins Environmental Initiative of the Year
GLASGOW Caledonian University’s commitment to sustainability was rewarded when it won Environmental Initiative of the Year at the Herald Society Awards on 28 October 2010. The award was shared with Aberdeen City Council, for A Tree for Every Citizen.
The past year has seen a number of environmental successes for GCU. In April 2010, it became the first university in Scotland to achieve Silver in the EcoCampus awards scheme. EcoCampus is an Environmental Management System and award scheme promoting sustainability in the higher education sector. 
The university has also produced a comprehensive carbon management plan, which was very well received by the Carbon Trust. These impressive achievements have seen GCU soar up the People and Planet Green League 2010 from 104th in the UK last year to 25th in the UK (a jump of 79 places) and second in Scotland. In addition, GCU gained a First Class Award.
It is also implementing its estates strategy to build an environmentally responsible university with reduced environmental impacts. Through staff and student training, the university has cut individual energy consumption and emissions, increased recycling, reused more resources and encouraged travel to work and study by means other than the car.
These initiatives are underpinned by continued support from the university community.
Students’ Association President Rory Herron says: “The Students’ Association is delighted with the achievements of GCU. There are a great number of students who are passionate about environmental issues so we will continue to work closely with the university this year in order to keep successes like this coming. We ourselves are working towards obtaining an NUS Green Impact award and have plans to look at waste and recycling on campus.”
GCU is now working towards gold and platinum EcoCampus status and becoming a Fairtrade university, whilst also participating in Sustainable Glasgow.
Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes
The main vehicular entrance at the south/west of the campus has always looked quite drab with the very dark Students Association building commanding prominence. The campus has really been opened up by its removal and the improved landscaping of this area giving a welcoming feel to visitors of the University. Now the next step has been completed and staff will very shortly be able to take advantage of the vista in the new, purpose built, staff social space.
  
The staff social space will become a place where staff can read, reflect, meet friends and colleagues or simply just enjoy a coffee. With the façade of the Hamish Wood building taking on a new brighter look, this once dark corner of the campus has now transformed into a much more welcoming environment.
University soars up "Green" League Table
Glasgow Caledonian University has received a prestigious "green" award after it was named the second most eco-friendly university in Scotland.
The University climbed 79 places, from 104th to 25th in the UK, in the People & Planet Green League 2010.
It was the biggest leap out of all Scottish universities and the hard work was recognised through a First Class award.
The People & Planet Green League 2010 is the only league table ranking 133 UK universities by environmental performance. It is based on 11 environmental policy and performance-related criteria including carbon emissions per head, waste recycling rates and new criteria measuring efforts to engage students and staff in cutting carbon emissions. This year’s Green League was described by organisers as being the most rigorous yet.
This builds on GCU’s recent success in becoming the first university in Scotland to achieve silver in the EcoCampus Environmental Management and Awards scheme and having its Carbon Management Plan approved by the Carbon Trust in the same week.
Ian Leggett, Director of People & Planet, said: “People & Planet congratulates all those universities which achieved First Class awards in this year’s Green League. Their success is a tribute to sustained and comprehensive efforts to make the transition to a low-carbon higher education sector.”
Jan Hulme, GCU University Secretary, adds: “We’re proud that our continued drive and enthusiasm for creating a greener campus has been recognised by the People & Planet Green League. This shows the extent of the progress that has been made over the past year as a result of the dedicated work of both staff and students, and we will ensure that our sustainability journey continues.”
View The People & Planet Green League 2010
GCU Going for Gold
The GCU Healthy Working Lives Group are working very hard at present preparing their submission for the SHWL Gold Award. This follows on from the Bronze and Silver awards which have already been attained by the University.
The GCU Healthy Working Lives Group is made up of a cross-section of staff and the current members are:
- Diane Beveridge, Occupational Health Advisor (BUPA Wellness)
- Jean Ash, Academic Registry
- Vicky Mair, Organisational Development
- Stella Bartram, Human Resources
- Colette Hamilton, Human Resources
- Charlotte Bozic, Marketing
- Corinne Menzies, ARC
- Monica Campbell, ARC
- Martina McGeehan, ARC
- Lynn Ferrier, Facilities Management
- Jim McQueen, Facilities Management
- Niall Logan, Bio
- Morag Thow, School of Health
- Frank McCabe, Catering
- Oliver McCrossan, Catering
One of the gold criterion encourages organisations and their staff to take steps to reduce their environmental impact through good practice and workplace initiatives. These initiatives should be above and beyond any statutory requirements.
GCU is well placed to fulfil the requirements of the gold stage thanks to the work already undertaken in producing our Carbon Management Plan and achieving the Silver Award in the EcoCampus Scheme.
The Future of Carbon Emissions at GCU
The third year Marketing Assignment Event took place from 10.30am to 2pm on Thursday, 27 May in the Saltire Centre.
Clients this year included Alzheimer’s Scotland, Carbon Management (GCU), Greenwood Trees, Partners in Advocacy and TicketSoup.com. The Principal opened the event.
As part of the event the "Carbon Management Team" which consisted of
Janet Anderson,
Courtney Arbuthnott,
Gordon Carslaw,
Scott Gordon,
Gillian Lynch and
Zoe McIntosh, delivered a very professional presentation to Jan Hulme, the University Secretary and Therese Fraser, Douglas Little and Jim McQueen from FMD. The presentation was very well received and could form part of the University's sustainability awareness campaign.
Part of the presentation consisted of 2 members of the team giving a
PowerPoint
presentation covering the plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% over a 5 year period and introduced the new super hero Ecoman. The other part was a radio
advertisement
in X Factor style.
View an audio-visual presentation introducing 'Ecoman'.
EcoCampus Silver Award
GCU’s commitment to sustainability and creation of a greener campus was rewarded when it became the first university in Scotland to achieve silver in the EcoCampus Environmental Management and Awards scheme on 28 April 2010.
The University’s Sustainability Committee has been working hard on the various initiatives which have led to this success.
EcoCampus uses a phased environmental management system approach: beginning at bronze status and moving through silver and gold to platinum - which is the equivalent to the international standard of ISO14001. The University hopes to have achieved all four stages by 2011.
The Team: Therese Fraser, Jas Sangha, Kenny Allen, Peter Kenedy, Douglas Little, Charlotte Bozic, Ellen McQuillan, Jim McQueen and Ray Murphy
Carbon Management Plan approved by the Carbon Trust
The University
had its Carbon Management Plan approved by the Carbon Trust in the same week it achieved EcoCampus silver.
GCU joined the Carbon Trust Management Programme last year in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint. The programme is designed specifically for universities and higher education colleges, providing institutions with relevant support and guidance to help cut carbon emissions and reduce energy costs.
HEFCE links Capital Allocations to English Higher Education Institutes to Carbon Reduction Targets
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will link future capital allocations to carbon reduction targets. Institutions are expected to put in place carbon management plans and associated reduction targets. The sector produces nearly 3.4Mt/yr CO2 equivalent. Not yet applicable in Scotland, GCU has been working closely with the Carbon Trust and has produced its first Carbon Management Plan and associated targets. For details see HEFCE
Updated: 3 October, 2011| Site
editor | Legal
|
