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The University of Bradford has gained a 'First' - being ranked among the top 10 greenest, most ethical and environmental-friendly UK universities. The secret of success was strong sustainable estate management as illustrated by previous award wins on a variety of projects.
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Some of the successful areas have included sustainable new builds, refurbishments, carbon reduction, waste management and campus development.
The University of Bradford has been awarded a First Class Award and ranked 9 out of 143 universities in the People & Planet Green League 2013 – the UK's only comprehensive and independent green ranking of universities unveiled today, 11th June, in The Guardian.
The University of Bradford’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Mark Cleary, said: “The University is dedicated to sustainability; it is built into our decision making process. We are proud to continue to set high standards with our Ecoversity programme.”
The People & Planet Green League, an annual ranking by the national student campaign group, assesses the environmental and ethical performance of all universities, awarding First Class 'degrees' to the greenest and Fail to those doing the least to address their environmental impacts. University of Bradford is among 43 institutions to achieve a ‘First’ in 2013.
Key recent projects include:
• A major library refurbishment enhancing the student learning experience and making major carbon savings through maximising insulation, natural ventilation and natural light.
• Our Green Energy Challenge; our bespoke energy efficiency engagement project in our BREEAM outstanding student residences
• Making the most of our inner city campus; creating an edible campus with gardeners improving and monitoring biodiversity and giving monthly tours.
Director of Estates & Facilities at the University of Bradford, Mr Clive Wilson explained: “Sustainability is in our DNA and everything we do as the Department of Estates and Facilities. It is fully embedded into our working processes and allows us not only to follow but actually set best practice in managing a sustainable estate.”
Louise Hazan, who compiled the People & Planet Green League, said: University of Bradford thoroughly deserves its First Class ranking this year and is helping to drive up environmental and ethical standards for the higher education sector as a whole. Their success in sustainable construction, reducing carbon emissions, finding creative ways to engage staff and students in the transition to sustainability is exemplary. We congratulate the University of Bradford on listening to its students who are quite rightly demanding greener degrees and that the university tackles issues like climate change head-on"
Nationally, the People & Planet Green League table reveals that after a decade of student-led Go Green campaigning, the Higher Education sector is gradually going greener with clear improvements. For the first time, 100% of universities assessed now have an environmental policy.
UK universities are also doing more to improve graduate prospects by preparing them for the future low-carbon economy and increasing their focus on sustainability in the curriculum; 47% of Universities gained full points for integrating sustainability into the curriculum, compared to 27% just two years ago.
The University of Bradford led the way with it’s pioneering Ecoversity programme incorporating bespoke sustainability learning into all modules taught at the university. In response to higher student demand People and Planet are also seeing a huge increase in initiatives to engage staff and students on sustainability issues.
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