Green League - our achievements

“We’re absolutely delighted with our significant leap up the table this year, a result which is a credit to the commitment from staff at all levels of the organisation to do their bit to help us improve our environmental impact, as well as a programme of major development activities across the University estate.

“To make this kind of improvement is particularly impressive for an energy-intensive research Russell Group University. Our high levels of research activity are always going to give us particular challenges in improving our environmental impact performance, so the fact that we have achieved this excellent result at the same time as continuing to develop our innovative and wide-ranging research programme is especially gratifying.

“But we haven’t finished yet! Our ambitious Energy Strategy sets out how we will achieve a 43% reduction on our 2005 carbon emissions by 2020. Our on-site 1Mw wind turbine, ground source heat pumps and solar farm provide 4.1% of our total electricity use. That’s a figure we hope to increase in the coming years. Our recent Arts Tower Blackout event was a highly visible statement of our commitment to tackle this issue. ”

Keith Lilley, Director of Estates and Facilities Management, University of Sheffield

• Everyone doing their bit: Our behaviour change and engagement work is strong-
~ this year students in our residences have saved over 8% on electricity use through the fun, Facebook-centred, prize-driven Student Switch Off
~ Over 50% of university departments now have a team of staff and student volunteers greening their workplace through Green Impact
• Getting students cycling: in partnership with a local social enterprise, our innovative cycling work gets over 100 students on refurbished bikes every year- and then gives free check-ups at our “Cycle Hut”
• Reuse and Recycling- good for the planet and good for Sheffield charities. We perform strongly on recycling and waste - over 80% of our waste is recycled or recovered, and our end-of-year “Bring It Don’t Bin It” reuse scheme gives over 4 tonnes of students’ unwanted items to local charities every year.
• Spring Into Nature: We are proud of our Biodiversity Action Plan and engagement work - Bill Oddie came to our Students’ Union, and we’ve set up a live webcam feed of the “University peregrine falcons” 
• Sustainable, Local Food: Our Accommodation and Commercial Services department gained points for creating a sustainable food policy, buying MSC-certified fish and free range eggs, and working with really local suppliers like Our Cow Molly (a dairy 5 miles away!)

• With Project Sunshine, our Faculty of Science is tackling the key issues of the coming century: energy and food sustainability.
• The National Centre of Excellence for Green roofs at the University of Sheffield leads the way in its field.
• Our E-Futures Doctoral Training Centre is equipping a new generation of scientists and engineers with the skills we need to make the transition to sustainable energy.
• Our Department of Geography is improving understanding of the effect of climate change on ice sheet loss

• Ethical and Environmental Committee: push for positive change at the University, and hold the Students’ Union to account
• Student Eats society- a thriving student-led allotment on University Residences (ACS) land
• Engineers without Borders: an inspiring group of students who have built their own wind turbine and pedal-powered cinema, run school outreach programmes and design simple, sustainable technology to improve the lives of people in developing countries

For more details on any of these projects please contact:

Tim Allen, Environmental Project Officer
T: (0114) 222 9003
E: tim.allen@sheffield.ac.uk