Towards A Greener SOAS Estate
For some time, we have been looking at ways in which the School can reduce its carbon footprint. As we are all aware there has been continued emphasis on reducing carbon emissions with the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) shortly to be introduced. The most immediate bearing on SOAS is the recent Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) consultation which makes it clear that good practice and an ongoing targeted reduction in carbon emissions will feature in the metrics used in future funding allocation for Universities and Colleges.
Sustainable Development
We have been very active in this area with all building projects as far back as the Library Terraces addressing the issues raised by sustainable development and operation. A building sector rating for refurbishment projects rated the Library Transformation Project as ‘Very Good’. Nevertheless we have more challenges than most with an estate dating back to the 1940s and 1970s. We need to make our facilities, which are already intensively used, more accessible and available to our community, whilst reducing our impact on the environment.
Energy Management Group
We launched an Energy Management Group in 2009 and have developed a carbon management plan with the help of the Green Consultancy. We are working in collaboration with other Bloomsbury colleges on this initiative and have appointed a new Energy Manager who works across all the colleges but is based at SOAS.
SOAS Carbon Footprint
The HEFCE consultation proposed a format for calculating our earlier Carbon Emissions using a mixture of available data and estimations achieved through the use of formulae. In the future we will be obliged to maintain up-to-date information on our various carbon sources and part of this includes data on travel. The Estates and Facilities Directorate are required to survey travel by all SOAS users to capture this data (SOAS Carbon Survey). Please take the time to complete this as accurately as possible as we are sure that you appreciate its importance not just to SOAS as an institution but also in helping SOAS to make a significant contribution to these important initiatives.
SOAS Recycling Initiative
We are improving our recycling provision with more widely distributed facilities which will allow the more effective recycling of a greater range of materials. This initiative is the result of collaboration between the Estates and Facilities Directorate and the Students’ Union Green Society as well as taking account of similar schemes operated elsewhere. In the initial phase new recycling sites were distributed at the most active points campus wide. The improved provision is welcome and any feedback on this service should be addressed to:
Robert Courtney
Communications and Coordination
Estates & Facilities
Room: F313
Tel: 020 7898 4804
E-mail: rc45@soas.ac.uk
You can all play a direct role in reducing SOAS’ carbon footprint. Although we have made progress over the last few years, there is still a great deal to be done. Please do take the time to complete the survey and make use of the recycling facilities around the School.
