Live Green

At Keele we embed sustainability in all we do and provide opportunities for students to learn about and experience sustainability through the campus and environment in which they live and extra curricular activities they're involve in, not just through their degree programmes.

As part of our work to integrate sustainability into the student experience, we strive to create a culture where sustainability becomes the 'norm' and is embedding into everything we do. The Live Green webpages are a resource for students living on campus, off campus, undergraduate and postgraduate students to find out about sustainable living and how to reduce carbon footprints and live more sustainably. 

Explore the aspects of sustainable living to find tips, links to videos, ideas and resources to reduce your impact on the planet and society, whilst trying something new or learning a new skill. Sustainable living offers opportunities to develop new skills, meet new people and have fun - it's not about going without but thinking about how we can do things differently.

If you think something is missing from these pages, get in touch with the Sustainability Team, and if you try something new, why not let us know through our social media channels - you could inspire other students too!

 

Explore sustainability at Keele

The Live Green webpages are designed by students for students to share information about green living, from energy and water saving, to waste reduction, low carbon transport and active travel to biodiversity projects on campus. Explore the sections below to find out more and get involved with sustainability at Keele. If there's an idea or project you can't find and you'd like to set up your own sustainability project, get in touch with the Sustainability Team and we'll work with you to explore setting this up!

Living more sustainably

Kitchen​
  • Look for more sustainable products for things used everyday, like dish sponges, bags, food packaging.​
  • Discuss a flat mate agreement so you don’t all need to buy the same items, for example, washing up liquid. 
Bathroom​
  • Use long-lasting sustainable products, for example: bar soap, scrubbers, sanitary products.​
  • Save water when using the sink, toilet and showers
Bedroom
  • Clothes – do you really need to buy that? Can you repair your clothes? ​
  • Eco and reusable cleaning supplies​
  • Shop for second-hand furniture​
  • Turn off appliances when not in use, reduce energy use
Studying
  • Use the library.
  • Don't print unless necessary​.
  • Reusable water bottle and containers.
  • Connect your work efforts to global challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals.​
  • Be mindful of what you consume for your work, research, and studies (e.g., lab equipment, clothing).​
  • Think about your circle of control and influence.​
  • Have a willingness to experiment and change to improve ways of working.​
  • Challenge systems and processes.​
  • Identify recurring issues and take ownership to reach a solution.

 

Student thoughts

“The obvious answer would be that everything sustainable is something that lasts without threatening anything else's existence. I find there are many other personal benefits: Not only do I save money with my lifestyle I also find joy in having nice things that last & in creating my own, in trying out new things.” - Keele Student

“Start off small, whether that is by buying a plant and making small changes to your diet, or trying products that are from recycled plastic or vegan.” – Katy Winters, English Literature & Creative Writing

“Start small. We tend to strive for perfection, but changing your lifestyle is a process that takes time. Start with something you are most interested in or passionate about: If you like gardening, try growing some of your own food; if you enjoy crafting repair your clothes or make some renewable household items; if you do creative writing, inspire people with your stories; if you like sciences research human impacts on the environment and share your findings. I think there are ways for everyone to engage with sustainability through their passions. And if you really cannot be asked to put effort into anything except survival, because university is difficult enough, perhaps watch a documentary or listen to a podcast on the subject to learn something without having to use any more of that precious energy.” – Keele student

Consumption
  • Do you really need that?​
  • Repair instead of replacing items.​
  • Can you upcycle any of your waste? Get crafty! ​
  • Check out second hand and donation schemes.​
  • Do your research into companies before buying a product. Choose sustainable products and services.​
  • Before buying an item online, leave it in the cart for 24 hours and see if you still need it.​
  • Buy local and support the local economy.​
  • Try reducing your plastic and packaging consumption. ​
  • Be conscious of what products you buy.​
  • Choose ethical banking. Check if your bank and pension is ethical.