Keele University
The Hub for
innovation and implementation of sustainable living
Keele Hub for Sustainability
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Keele University Sustainability Strategy & Policies
The Need for Sustainability Policies
The University's environmental policy sets challenging targets in reducing environmental impact from the estate and all other activities and services. The vision is that the unique campus location can become a showcase for environmental best practice.
For more than twenty years Keele University has recognised the need to manage energy consumption and has been successful in reducing its
energy requirement. It also recognises the need to reduce the environmental impact from across all other activities and services. A challenging Environmental Policy was launched in 2008 along with the appointment of an Environmental Manager to coordinate improvements across the University.
In August 2008, the University was one of only 5 Universities to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard, and have also recently launched a Carbon Management Plan that aims to meet the Governments targets for CO2 reduction. Alongside this, a Renewable and Sustainable Energy Strategy is being developed to deliver the University's ambitions of being self sufficient in energy supply.
As a leading UK University it is imperative that Keele University seeks to develop graduate and postgraduates who are aware of sustainable issues. This will be through embedding sustainability within the curriculum, awareness raising and behaviour change through demonstrating excellent environmental practice and technologies at the University.
Keele University's campus, at ca 620 acres, has unrivalled potential to becoming a Hub for Sustainability, bringing together research, teaching and demonstration of environmental and sustainable technologies and practices.
Environmental Strategy
Following a detailed consultation process the University council approved a new Environmental Policy in July 2008.
The Environmental Policy covers areas such as greening the curriculum, waste reduction, sustainable development and transport and contains a series of targets across these areas.
Energy Strategy
Universities have a leading role to play in addressing the linked global challanges of cutting carbon emissions and tackling climate change.
Energy generation from fossil fuels accounts for the largest proportion of the worlds carbon emissions so the challange is to find efficient renewable energy.
Keele University aims to be a demonstrator campus in energy production as it has unrivalled potential for onsite energy generation including wind, solar and geothermal.
University Policies
Waste and Recycling
The University's waste policy aims to reduce waste at source, reuse materials where possible and recycle.
The University provides recycling facilities across all its activities and services for paper, cardboard, plastics and cans.
The University's Recycling Strategy is part of the Higher Education Carbon Management Plan that aims to reduce CO2 emissions 18% by 2015.
In 2010 Keele brought in an outside team to audit the Campus waste to find out how much recyclable waste was being thrown away.
Transport and Travel
Keele University promotes sustainable travel amongst staff, students and visitors and aims to reduce the carbon emissions from business travel and owned fleet.
