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- Our Environmental Code of Practice
Our Environmental Code of Practice
A framework for greening Sheffield Students' Union
The Environmental Code of Practice is a crucial part of our Environmental Policy, and will play a key role in the Students' Union reaching our strategic goal of being at the forefront of environmental practice.
It has been put together in order to:
- Provide clear environmental targets and systems for everyone in the Students' Union to work towards.
- Spell out the specific ways in which those targets will be achieved.
This Code of Practice is for everyone who uses the Students' Union building - as we will need everybody's contribution on this. If you have any questions, feel something has been missed, or would like some support implementing the Code in your area, please contact Tim Allen on 28557 / t.r.allen@sheffield.ac.uk.
Key Aims
Click on the arrow within each box to reveal a drop-down list of actions everyone can take.
Awareness & Engagement
Staff take ownership of environmental best practice in their area. Student involvement in achieving our environmental goal is maximised.
We do this by:
Encouraging all staff to proactively identify ways in which their work can feed
into/ adhere to this code of practice, to Green Impact Students' Unions, and to
Goal 8. Staff will be supported to do so by the Environmental Coordinator.
Promoting environmental awareness through Intro Week events, Ultimate
Fair and drop-in stalls at other appropriate events throughout the year.
Liaising regularly with relevant student committees and societies. This work
will include supporting an annual student-led EEK Week/ Green Week.
Following up all environmental ideas from our members- students and staff-
which are potentially workable. We shall resource, implement and give credit
for the best ideas (Responsive and Innovative).
Co-developing (alongside the University) an "environmental brand
identityî to visually tie together all Students' Union green initiatives. This will be used
on all our environmental publicity, to include new fixed signage in each
area.
Informing all new staff of the code of practice, together with the
implications that it has for their work, through their training and induction.
Using all appropriate communication channels to promote campaigns and
events. This will include bulletins and briefings for staff, flyers, posters,
plasmas, email lists and social media for students. Materials will use the Students'
Union's environmental brand identity.
Energy
Students' Union carbon emissions from energy use reduced annually by 2-3%.
We do this by:
Working to reduce our on-site carbon emissions from energy use (Scopes
1 & 2) by at least 2-3% each year in the short term. We will monitor
our progress and, if feasible, will converge with the HEFCE HE sector
targets*.
Publicising to members our energy performance compared to our targets
Seeking the advice of the University Energy Manager on all future
refurbishments and ensuring that energy-saving opportunities are
prioritised.
Investigating any opportunities which arise to generate renewable
electricity on our site, by working with the University.
Auditing to identify avoidable energy waste and projects eligible
for SALIX funding. This to be done (informally or by University staff)
annually.
Encouraging students and staff to switch off lighting and other electrical
equipment appropriately to minimise energy consumption.
Each area will display a visible "Switch Off Responsibility Planî.
Limiting the carbon impact of our heating requirements by strictly
monitoring the use of electric heaters, and by banning patio heaters.
*HEFCE targets are- 35% carbon reduction by 2017/18, 48% reduction by 2020/21.
Recycling & Waste
Initial target that 50% of our waste is pre-sorted on site for recycling.
We do this by:
Setting percentage targets for recycling. We aim to pre-sort 50% of our
waste for recycling by January 2012.
Working with the University to ensure that University waste
disposal/recycling arrangements take account of the needs of the Students' Union.
Prioritising waste reduction and reuse over recycling.
Minimising waste by providing appropriate and convenient re-cycling
facilities in working spaces and common areas.
Trialling donating our food waste to local organisations running drop-ins.
Offering facilities for members to recycle a wide variety of common
items: mobile phones, batteries and- through Bring It Don't Bin It-
end of year waste such as clothes, shoes, books, DVDs, electrical goods.
Ensuring that our own redundant IT equipment, electrical equipment,
and, where possible, furniture is re-used or recycled.
Requiring contractors to dispose of waste, in line with University policy.
Monitoring, and seeking to reduce, paper consumption in photocopying,
office printing, stationery and general printing expenditure.
Implementing where possible the UoS Guide to Practice Printing.
Sustainable Transport
We will encourage and reward sustainable transport through our expenses policy and through regular awareness events.
We do this by:
Working together with the University's Energy and Environment Team
at key times, particularly Intro Week, to publicise the help available for
members wanting to use sustainable transport.
Rewarding sustainable commutes, by walkers/ cyclists' breakfasts etc.
Using our expenses policy to prevent staff from taking domestic flights
(under 400 miles within Great Britain) on Students' Union business.
Encouraging our visitors to travel to the Students' Union by green means.
Procurement
Only A-rated appliances bought, the proportion of sustainable food, drink, packaging and stationery to be increased year on year by each outlet.
We do this by:
Buying only the most energy-efficient appliances (A-rated or above, for
example), using the University's SALIX funding where appropriate.
Annually increasing the proportion of our products- food, packaging and
stationery- which are sustainable (recycled, organic etc), in all outlets.
Construction
We will be clear with consultants / the University that we expect high environmental standards in all refurbs, including at least BREEAM, 'Very Good', or 'Excellent', for applicable larger projects.
We do this by:
Engaging consultants on the basis that they will consider the whole
lifecycle of materials used and work to industry best practice.
Building long-lasting facilities that will not need frequent replacement.
Achieving BREEAM "Very Goodî or "Excellentî for all applicable larger
projects, or engaging with the University to ensure that they do so.
