ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2013/14

Transcription

1 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2013/14

2 INTRODUCTION As an institution with over 20,000 students and 2,000 staff, De Montfort University recognises that it has environmental and sustainability impacts which need to be managed in order to reduce the negative and enhance the positive impacts. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUCCESSFULLY SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE WORLD BY COMBINING RESEARCH EXCELLENCE, INNOVATIVE THINKING AND AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR OUR ESTATES. We are helping to turn words and targets into affordable technology, while changing the behaviour of people and organisations. In a world of complex social, economic and environmental challenges, our cutting-edge research and teaching in sustainability is helping to change the world one step at a time. THE YEAR 2013/14 HAS SEEN CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN MANY AREAS OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY COMMITMENTS AND IN OUR ABILITY TO MEASURE AND REPORT SUCCESS. This report details our progress and highlights our many achievements in 2013/14 in our attempt to make a significant contribution to the global efforts to achieve environmental sustainability.

3 MAKING AN IMPACT STAFF AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Staff and students have a key role to play in reducing the university s environmental impact and enhancing its sustainability impact. Through engagement projects such as Green Impact, Student Switch Off and SmartSpaces, we raise awareness of these issues and encourage sustainable actions. The university has increased its involvement in Green Impact, an environmental behaviour change project which has run at DMU for five years. Working with the National Union of Students (NUS), students from DMU have worked with Leicester charity LOROS Hospice and Leicestershire County Council to implement and audit their Green Impact programmes. GREEN IMPACT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACCREDITATION SCHEME HELPING ORGANISATIONS TO ADOPT GREENER HABITS IN THEIR WORKPLACE. This provides our students with new skills and new experiences which can enhance their CVs and boost their employability prospects, while supporting organisations to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviours.

4 OUR TARGETS DELIVER AT LEAST ONE ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PROJECT PER YEAR IN HALLS OF RESIDENCE FOR STUDENTS (STUDENT SWITCH OFF) TO 2016/17 DELIVER AT LEAST ONE ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PROJECT PER YEAR FOR STAFF (GREEN IMPACT OR SIMILAR) TO 2016/17 OUR PROGRESS DMU students supported LOROS in the implementation of Green Impact DMU students completed environmental audits for Leicestershire County Council as part of Green Impact Students completed environmental audits at DMU Students supported staff volunteers to complete environmental activities through Green Impact Students took part in canal clean ups as part of Square Mile Student Switch Off took place in Bede and New Wharf halls of residence

5 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT We have developed a new Environmental Management System (EMS) framework which covers the whole campus and seeks to provide a more integrated approach to managing our environmental activities and their impacts. The EMS has been assessed against the ACORN (BS8555) standard and has met Phases 1-3 of that standard. We will continue to further develop the EMS and report our progress. We ve ensured compliance with environmental legislation and are undertaking compliance audits and developing new compliance procedures and processes as part of the EMS.

6 OUR TARGETS IMPLEMENT AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE WHOLE CAMPUS AND GAIN EXTERNAL CERTIFICATION COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATIVE AUDITS ON AIR EMISSIONS, WASTE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL AND DISCHARGES ANNUALLY PRODUCE AND MAINTAIN SITE DRAINAGE PLAN BY 2014/15 OUR PROGRESS Implemented an environmental management system Successfully achieved Phases 1-3 of the Acorn Accreditation Scheme Complied with environmental legislation Drainage plan completed and is being updated through Fletcher development Legislative audits completed and reported to Sustainable Development Task Force in June 2014 QEII LEISURE CENTRE DISCHARGE TO BE 9M3 PER 24HRS FOR 2014/15

7 TRAVEL Our travel plan continues to encourage staff and students to adopt more environmentally friendly forms of travel. OUR TARGET OUR PROGRESS 12 per cent of staff now cycle to work, which is four times the national average Only 40 per cent of journeys to DMU by staff for work are single occupancy car journeys Single occupancy car journeys for students is just 14 per cent TO KEEP SINGLE OCCUPANCY CAR USE (STAFF) TO BELOW 45 PER CENT 17% WALK/RUN 40% SINGLE CAR DRIVER DMU STAFF MODAL TRAVEL CHOICES % BICYCLE 10% TRAIN 7% OTHER BUS 5% CAR SHARE AS DRIVER 5% CAR SHARE AS PASSENGER 2% PARK AND RIDE 2% HOSPITAL HOPPER 0% 0% MOTORCYCLE OTHER

8 ENERGY The university continues to implement key energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. These projects help to keep spending on energy costs down and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use. OUR TARGET WATER CONSUMPTION TO BE 3M3 PER STUDENT BY 2014/15 OUR PROGRESS Installation of 502 solar panels on DMU buildings Panels provide 90,000 kwh electricity per year Our grid electricity supply comes from 100 per cent cleaner technologies such as combined heat and power (CHP) Installed energy efficient LED floodlighting around campus Installed pool cover in Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre Water consumption was 3.7m3 per student in 2013/14

9 WASTE AND RECYCLING The amount of waste that the university produces continues to fall and the amount of waste sent for recycling is increasing. The range of materials that can be recycled at the university has also increased. In 2013/14 the university generated 553 tonnes of non-residential waste of which 428 tonnes were recycled, with 125 tonnes being sent to landfill. OUR TARGETS RECYCLE 75 PER CENT OF NON-RESIDENTIAL WASTE BY 2015/16 RECYCLE 85 PER CENT OF NON-RESIDENTIAL WASTE BY 2017/18 OUR PROGRESS The amount of waste generated was 10 per cent lower in 2013/14 than the year before We recycle approximately 75 per cent of our waste Plans are in place to further expand the materials which can be recycled on campus LANDFILL WASTE MIXED RECYCLED PAPER WEIGHT IN TONNES CARDBOARD WOOD METAL 27.1 TEXTILES 0.4 COMPUTERS 50.4 GLASS 14.1 TERTIARY SORTING 0.2 PLASTIC 8.76 INK CARTRIDGES 3.64 DETAILED RECYCLING WEIGHTS AND LANDFILL WEIGHTS FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL 2013/14

10 CARBON EMISSIONS Using the expertise from its Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, the university takes a comprehensive approach to measuring and reporting its carbon emissions. As part of this approach the university doesn t just report emissions from energy use but also emissions from other sources such as international student travel, UK-based student travel, waste, water and procurement. EMISSION SOURCES SCOPE 1 Use of gas DMU owned vehicles SCOPE 2 Purchased electricity SCOPE 3 Waste Water Staff commuting Student commuting Business travel Visitor travel International student travel UK-based student travel Procurement activities Private halls

11 CARBON EMISSIONS We have adopted stringent reduction targets for our emissions from energy use (known as scope 1 and 2) and agreed emissions reduction targets for the other sources we measure (known as scope 3 emissions). OUR TARGETS REDUCE SCOPE 1 AND 2 EMISSIONS BY 43 PER CENT BY 2020, BASED ON 2005 LEVELS REDUCE SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS BY 14 PER CENT BY 2020, BASED ON 2005 LEVELS VISITOR TRAVEL 200 UK BASED STUDENT TRAVEL 682 OUR PROGRESS We have set demanding reduction targets for our scope 1, 2 and 3 emission sources Our energy-related emissions are 24 per cent below our 2005 baseline year Our scope 3 emissions are 17 per cent below our 2005 baseline year INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL 3836 STAFF AND STUDENT COMMUTE 9160 WASTE AND RECYCLING 893 PRIVATE HALLS 3061 WATER SUPPLY AND TREATMENT 77 CARBON EMISSIONS TCO2e ELECTRICITY USE FOR DMU BUILDINGS 7407 PROCUREMENT 17,486 TRANSPORT DMU VEHICLES 17 BUSINESS TRAVEL 2189 CARBON (GREENHOUSE GAS) EMISSIONS FROM DETAILED SOURCES 2013/2014 (TCO 2 e) GAS USE DMU BUILDINGS 2,528

12 SUSTAINABLE FOOD We are committed to embedding sustainability into all our activities and actions. This includes our teaching, our research, the management of our campus, and the provision of sustainably sourced food to our staff, our students and visitors to our university. OUR PROGRESS We have adopted a sustainable food policy We are implementing a sustainable food plan which aims to increase the provision of food provided through higher welfare schemes and reduce the amount of waste in the catering process Our catering provision at DMU is currently provided through a partnership arrangement with Chartwells, which is part of the Compass group. Chartwells have already developed sustainability criteria within their supply chain including avoiding fish on the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Fish to Avoid list; providing Fairtrade tea and coffee as standard; using seasonal produce from UK suppliers where possible; promoting the use of food assurance schemes such as Red Tractor in their supply chain; and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices.

13 ETHICAL INVESTMENT We have adopted an ethical investment policy which we apply to our business ventures. While our holdings are relatively small, we do have some endowment funds. These are held separately to general funds in the COIF Charities Funds. These funds are specifically for charities, faith organisations and local authorities, and are managed by CCLA Investment Management Ltd. CCLA are considered pioneers of ethical and responsible investment and are committed to pushing forward a positive agenda for change on behalf of their clients. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION Sustainable construction at DMU is primarily guided by the university s energy policy which seeks to achieve a high level within the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) sustainable construction scheme. Progress on the Campus Transformation project has included the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity on several buildings across the campus. There will also be additional PV panels on the new Fletcher complex.

14 OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY As a city centre university, DMU has a key role to play within the local community, both as a major employer and as a large purchaser of goods and services. Our Director of Sustainable Development is the chair of the Leicester Partnership Environmental Experts Group which works to address the city mayor s strategic priority for Leicester to be a low carbon city. The city has a long-standing target to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide in the city by 50 per cent from the 1990 baseline by OUR PROGRESS Completed projects which contribute to a low carbon city, such as Green Impact and Student Switch Off Developing the SmartSpaces project in partnership with Leicester City Council to reduce energy use in public buildings in Leicester Running environmental projects as part of the Square Mile initiative We play a key role by supporting this work and delivering projects within the university that contribute to reducing emissions in the city.

15 BIODIVERSITY The university has adopted a biodiversity policy which seeks to improve existing wildlife habitats and create new habitats where possible. The Estates and Commercial Services Directorate manages the existing green space across the campus and seek to apply sustainability principles where possible. IN 2013/14 STUDENTS TOOK PART IN A PROJECT CALLED GREEN FUTURES, WHICH MADE USE OF REDUNDANT HENRY HOOVERS AND WASTE WOODEN PALLETS TO CREATE A PLANTING AREA WHICH USED HERBS AND PLANTS BENEFICIAL FOR BIODIVERSITY.

16 TEACHING AND RESEARCH We were part of the second Green Academy programme run through the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The HEA Green Academy programme supports institutions to embed education for sustainable development within the taught curriculum. As a result of our participation in this programme we revised the engineering curriculum and identified a second-year module, Project Management, that could be revised to focus on sustainable development. The module template was re-written to incorporate the Engineers Without Borders Challenge programme as its core assessment. This has had the clear impact of embedding sustainable development as core module content for all our engineering students. OUR SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH CONTINUES TO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD, WHETHER IT S RESEARCHING WAYS FOR MUSIC FESTIVALS TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT OR MONITORING ENERGY USE. IN THE UK S FIRST SOLAR HOUSE.

17 DMU SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE The Sustainable Development Task Force (SDTF) was set up in 2007 to co-ordinate activity and encourage positive actions around sustainability at DMU. The task force is comprised of representatives from across the university including each of the faculties and directorates and representatives from De Montfort Students Union. THE SDTF WORKS TO IMPLEMENT THE UNIVERSITY S SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES AND TO IMPLEMENT THE SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY S STRATEGIC PLAN.

18 ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 2013/14 GENERAL Indicators/metrics 2009/ / / / /14 Income/turnover M M M M M Student numbers 22,457 22,411 22,192 20,473 20,423 Staff numbers 3,350 3,083 2,950 2,871 2,730 Gross Internal Area (GIA) (m2) 167, , , , ,625 ENERGY Indicators/metrics 2009/ / / / /14 Energy use (*MWh) 33,135 29,452 28,489 33,209 28,554 Electricity use (MWh) 15,820 14,652 13,713 15,064 14,986 Gas use (MWh) 17,315 14,800 14,776 18,145 13,668 Water use (m3) 58,977 60,565 71,131 77,256 75,527 Energy generated from renewables (MWh) Fuel used in DMU vehicles (litres) 4,772 4,399 4, ,457 Residential & nonresidential GIA with display energy 44,339 68,566 79,220 86,695 90,524 certificate rating A C % residential & non-residential GIA with display energy certificate rating A C 26% 43% 52% 57% 67% *MWh = 1000kWh

19 TRANSPORT WASTE AND RECYCLING Indicators/metrics 2009/ / / / /14 % Single occupancy car use (staff) 47% 45% 42% 47% 40% % Single occupancy car use (students) 13% 13% 15% 10% 14% % Staff travel by public transport 21% 20% 20% 19% 20% % Staff travel by cycling 9% 9% 11% 9% 12% % Staff travel by walking/running 13% 13% 14% 15% 17% Indicators/metrics 2009/ / / / /14 Total waste produced non-residential (tonnes) Waste recycled non-residential (tonnes) Waste to landfill non-residential (tonnes) Total waste produced residential (tonnes) Waste recycled residential (tonnes) Waste to landfill residential (tonnes)

20 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Indicators/metrics 2009/ / / / /14 Emissions from energy & DMU owned vehicles scope 1 & 2) (tco2e) Emissions from staff & student commute (scope 3) (tco2e) Emissions from business travel (scope 3) (tco2e) Emissions from waste & water (scope 3) (tco2e) Emissions from international & UK student travel (scope 3) (tco2e) Emissions from procurement activities (tco2e) Emissions from all scope 3 sources (tco2e) Total Emissions - scope 1, 2 & 3 sources (tco2e) 11,519 10,439 10,224 10,064 9,952 9,412 7,556 8,120 6,919 9,160 1,088 1,250 1,620 1,935 2,189 1,523 1,186 1,174 1, ,032 4,789 5,588 5,525 4,517 18,596 15,180 12,662 14,981 17,486 38,609 33,807 33,065 34,197 37,584 50,128 44,246 43,289 44,261 47,536 BUSINESS TRAVEL Indicators/metrics 2009/ / / / /14 Air travel (tco2e) , ,769 Rail travel (tco2e) Maritime (tco2e) Road travel (tco2e)

21 For more information about environmental and sustainability benchmarking at DMU please contact Karl Letten, Environmental and Sustainability Officer: T: (0116) E: W: dmu.ac.uk/sustainability Estates Department De Montfort University The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH Copyright De Montfort University, April 2015