Bradford boosts its green credentials
The University of Bradford is springing into 2015 with a host of achievements recognising its commitment to a sustainable and green campus.
Recent statistics have placed Bradford in the top six universities for carbon reduction.
The University has reduced its carbon footprint by 35%, saved in excess of £7m and has lower utility spend than it did a decade ago, this is in a market that has seen prices rise 85% over the same period.
Salix has awarded the University £0.9m to expand its Richmond Energy Centre to install a second generation unit to increase generating capacity to most of the buildings sited on City Campus. This along with other projects will assist the University in it’s off grid aspiration as well as further mitigate the University against an uncertain energy future where experts are predicting utility price rises and issues with supply over the coming years.
Bradford is already widely recognised for its environmental activities and the success of its climate mitigation measures it has put in place over the last decade. It has won a whole host of awards praising its sustainable build projects and development of a sustainable campus.
The University’s Estates and Facilities departments have also worked together to achieve the EcoCampus Gold accreditation.
EcoCampus is an Environmental Management System and Gold is the final stage before international management standard accreditation. This accreditation demonstrates the University’s commitment to a . Achievements include delivering sustainable construction projects and an improved natural campus, minimising pollution risks, modernising the infrastructure and improving efficiency, handling waste correctly, composting, reusing furniture and not sending waste to landfill.
The external auditor, Richard Walsh from NQA said: “Estates and Facilities, sees that sustainable development is key to moving forward successfully and to that end a new 10 year strategy for the University is being drawn up that will take things right through to the mid 2020’s.”
Clive Wilson, Director of Estates and Facilities said: “Estates and Facilities have worked as an integrated team to fully embed sustainability into everything it does.
“The University is now starting to see the effects of ten years hard work with accolades, financial savings and, reduced carbon and waste from its two campuses. Receiving the Eco Campus Gold award is a demonstration of the University’s commitment to environmental issues and the Salix grant will allow us to continue this work by further reducing its carbon footprint”.