Top two finish for Nottingham in 'green campus' rankings

Greenmetricrankings
15 Jan 2013 15:18:39.100

The University of Nottingham is in the top two for the third consecutive year in a list of the world’s most sustainable universities.

The Greenmetric Ranking of World Universities is produced by the University of Indonesia and features 215 institutions. Nottingham ranks 2nd behind the University of Connecticut and is the UK’s top university.

Nottingham was named the world’s greenest campus in the 2011 list and also finished 2nd in 2010.

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The ranking factors in a wide range of criteria. This includes energy management programmes, water and waste management, sustainability-related teaching and research, percentage of green space on campus and sustainable transportation.

Improving environmental performance

Chris Jagger, Chief Estates and Facilities Officer, said: “The University is once again delighted to have been placed in the top two in the UI World Index for the third year running. This position reflects the work that we have done over a number of years on improving our environmental performance. Our approach at Nottingham is at an Institutional level and sustainability is one of the University’s guiding principles.

“Our positioning in the league reflects the holistic approach that the University takes to sustainability. For a number of years our work around energy reduction and sustainable transport has been exemplary and we have seen year on year improvements in these areas.”

Nottingham performed particularly well in terms of water, energy and climate change, and transportation. The full Greenmetric Ranking list is available online.

Nottingham’s sustainability drive

The University launched its environmental strategy in 2010 and its aims for achieving excellence in sustainability across all areas. Last year the University achieved a reduction in its carbon emissions for a second successive year — a decrease of more than 1,000 tonnes — despite increasing student numbers and buildings.

Other highlights include:

  • £800,000 invested in cycle facilities, including new cycle lanes, parking, storage and a cycle hire scheme.
  • New buildings on campus designed to be low-carbon in order to meet BREEAM (British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology ) ‘Excellent’ rating.
  • A combined heat & power plant was recommissioned at the King’s Meadow Campus; this combusts gas to provide electricity and heat in a much more efficient manner, reducing CO2 by 280 tonnes. Similar low-carbon options are being considered for University Park and Sutton Bonington.
  • 96 per cent of the University’s 10,000 PCs brought onto the PowerMan system, switching them to a low-power mode after a period of inactivity.
  • A teaching and learning Grand Challenge to include sustainability in our curricula and help students to gain practical skills and knowledge.

Continued success for Nottingham

This result comes hot on the heels of the University picking up the award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development at the Times Higher Education Awards 2012. Additionally, the University’s campus has been awarded a Green Flag Award for the last 10 years after being the first University to be recognised.

The University of Nottingham is committed to being a sector-leading sustainable university. For more information on how this is being achieved, visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/sustainability.

Ends —

Notes to editors: The University of Nottinghamhas 42,000 students at award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia; according to the Sunday Times University Guide 2012, ‘Of all the British universities, Nottingham has embraced internationalism the most.’ It is also one of the most popular universities in the UK by 2012 application numbers, and ‘the world’s greenest university’. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and the QS World University Rankings.

More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2011, for its research into global food security.

Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news

Story credits

More information is available from Chris Jagger, Chief Estates and Facilities Officer at The University of Nottingham, via chris.jagger@nottingham.ac.uk or +44 (0)115 951 3610

Fraser Wilson - Communications Officer

Email: fraser.wilson@nottingham.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)115 846 6691 Location: University Park

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