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Annual Report 2010/11

Annual Report 2010-11

 

The Environment and Sustainability Team, together with the Sustainable Aston Working Group, have published their third Annual Report.

This report details acheivements from the academic year 2010/11, as well as outlining our goals for the year ahead.

The report is available to download as a PDF. For a brief summary of the report and our sustainability-related activities, see below.

Policies and commitments

  • Aston University has published a Sustainability Policy which is underpinned by a number of more detailed area-specific policies and action plans.

  • A revised Carbon Management Plan has been published, in line with HEFCE guidance.  

  • Aston has been achieved the Gold phase EcoCampus award for our Environmental Management System.

Teaching, Learning and Research

  • Aston Business School have continued their work as part of the UN PRME (Principles of Responsible Management Education) project.

  • ABS have also been chosen as an exemplar case study as part of a HEFCE project on embedding sustainability.

  • The Centre for Sustainability and Innovation made available a second round of research funding.

  • Construction on the new EBRI (European Bio-energy Research Insitute) facility has begun; joint funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Advantage West Midlands and Aston University.

Energy consumption

  • Aston ran the Student Switch Off for our third year and has just launched the fourth year (2011/12).

  • Aston has been making good use of our £250,000 of funding received from the Salix Revolving Green Fund.

Waste

  • Aston have appointed a new waste management contractor, which will allow us to reduce our costs and increase our recycling rates.

  • Mini-recycling centres have been extended around campus and across halls of residence.

  • Aston ran a 'Zero Waste from Halls' project, collecting unwanted items from students which were then donated to charity.

Transport

  • Aston have installed a number of electric car charging points on campus as part of the CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrators) project.

  • Aston have relaunched City Car Club on campus, offering a low carbon vehicle for short-term hire.

Community

  • Aston ran the Aston Go Green Awards competition for the second year running, as well as launching the Energy Champions network.

  • The Fairtrade Steering group ran a petition to encourage the University and Student Guild to purchase more Fairtrade cotton.

  • Aston held our second annual Go Green Week in February, with lectures, presentations, competitions and other activities.