University of Central Lancashire, winner of the Business Link NW Carbon Positive Footprint Award

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has embedded its sustainable development strategy in all areas of its work and is on target to reduce its carbon footprint by 25% in 2011/12 from a 2006/07 baseline.

UCLan’s sustainable development strategy incorporates seven key objectives each being addressed by university-wide working groups of academics, staff and students. With targets of attaining Environmental Management System ISO14001 by 2010 and becoming a carbon neutral campus by 2050 the programme touches all areas of the University.

Information Technology has been a key area with the entire PC network being transferred to automatic overnight shut down, and monitors and servers being converted to lower carbon alternatives. All areas of facilities have also been scrutinised to identify low carbon alternatives, from replacement of inefficient boilers to moving towards LED lighting.  Additionally, the University now includes sustainability in contractors’ documentation for all major projects.

UCLan has also taken advantage of it’s position as an education provider and instigated three new University courses focussed on sustainability.

Impact

  • 5.2% reduction in carbon emissions between 2005 and 2007
  • Automatic shut down of PC network overnight has saved 147 tonnes of CO2 per annum
  • Solar pholtovoltaic project set up in 2008 has delivered estimated annual carbon savings of 15000kg per annum
  • Actual emissions for 2007/08 were 67kg CO2 / m2 compared with a peer group median of 72 kg CO2 / m2

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