November 2014

Welcome to our Newsletter for November Don't forget to check out the website

www.lboro.ac.uk/sustainability

This November… • Transitions lboro – Energy

saving community event at Saturday 22nd November, at St Peters Community Centre on Storer Road

Coming soon… • A Taste of Leicestershire

Sunday Lunch • Local food hero events.

Follow us…

Twitter @SustainLboro

Facebook

Sustainability at Lboro Lboro Loves Food, Hates Waste

We are delighted to now officially open the new cycle to work scheme being operated through Halfords. You will not be restricted to Halfords store with the option to choose bikes from one of the partnered independent bike shops such as Pedal Power (& COGZ). It is hoped that this new scheme will increase the range of bikes on offer for staff. There are also a number of other benefits to staff such as: 20% off Family discount on Halfords Apollo Range Free 1 year bike care plan worth £100 12.5% Free accessories when selecting a Halfords ranged bike To find out more about the scheme visit www.cycle2work.info and register with our unique employer code: LBUNIC2W14

This Month’s Seasonal Foods This Month’s BEST…

Sweetcorn & cox apples

Also in Season… Red cabbage, white cabbage, savoy,

spring green and Kale Squash, Potatoes, sprouts, leeks

cauliflower, runner beans, marrow and carrots and blackberries

For more information visit…

http://eatseasonably.co.uk/what-to-eat-now/calendar

Fruit, Food, Music, Fire This year saw an abundance of fruit again across the campus and apple harvesting began in earnest mid October ready for the harvest weekend. Teams of staff and students met at different locations around campus to collect apples and learn more about the Fruit Routes project. Supporting the University Eat Your Campus idea people were invited to collect apples for free and enter the first ever Campus Apple Bake Off competition. Twenty entries were submitted with a fantastic audience gathering to watch the judging. Even VC Bob entered with his Dorset Apple Cake. A team from Robert Bakewell Hall won with their Toffee & Apple Cake, and received a fabulous Fairtrade hamper worth £50! Over the 3 days Transition Loughborough were here pressing the apples for juice and cider making. Saturday the 19th October was the main event with apple pressing, pumpkin carving, lantern making and the sharing of food and fun by the community, staff and students. This was all hosted at The Shed which is the SU Landscaping and Gardening Society allotment area on Campus. Celebrations went on into the evening with a bonfire, BBQ and live music. There were around 300 people at the events over the 3 days and some wonderful moments shared.

To find out more and get involved: LAGS, please contact Benji Appleby at eande@lsu.co.uk LAGS meet every week on Fridays, from 3pm-5pm at the Shed. Fruit Routes, please contact environment@lboro.ac.uk or http://fruitroutesloughborough.wordpress.com/

Celebrate Harvest @SustainLboro

Going Green… Being a self admitted petrol head in my younger days I ended up being in possession of a beast, a Range Rover 4.6 litre V8. I then had the duty at Loughborough of being Chair of the Transport Sustainability group which never sat well with owning a Rangie. In my defence I had the Rangie well before this position (8 years in all). Also in my defence I did try, I converted it to LPG which lowered the emissions and was a lot cheaper to run. However a Range Rover being a Range Rover, it took a heavy toll on my wallet. I was stuck with it and couldn't immediately afford to replace it.

Finally, the day has come…. I have been considering off and on as to whether I invest in a more sensible car. Well I went for a test drive and was suitably impressed and I have made the shift, talk about one end of the scale to the other. I have purchased a used Plugin Prius and now my journey to work will be wholly driven by the plugin electric part and further journeys will be on hybrid. With majority of my journeys in the week being less than 12 miles a day this suits electric down to the ground. On top of this zero road tax and zero car parking charge at work delivers financial benefits to me as well as carbon reduction benefits at the tailpipe for the benefit of all.

Guest Writer.. Kevin Walmsley Head of Corporate Services and Chair of the Transport Sustainability Group

I have only had the Prius for 3 days so more to come next month on my experiences.

Events this month… Transition Lboro Energy Reduction at Home Event Saturday 22nd November St Peters Community centre, Storer Road, Lboro Events Details A Presentation by Dr Tina Holt on Energy efficiency with examples from the HOBBS report, there will be small groups demonstrating no and low cost energy efficiency measures that you could implement in your home, from draft proofing to making your own thermal curtains. Plus an expert to advise on current government incentive schemes and advice on understanding energy bills. The event is sponsored by CSE and we will be using their draught-proofing demonstration kit (http://www.cse.org.uk/news/view/1816). It is a free event and there will be free food and drink available.

Burleigh Court Taste of Leicestershire Sunday Lunch Local Food Hero Initiative Thursday 5th February Burleigh Court Events Details In celebration of the wonderful local food and drink we have in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Burleigh Court are please to announce 2 new initiatives

Local Food Heros We start our Food Hero’s event on Thursday 5th February from 7pm to 9pm The first evening will be hosted by Sean O’Neill from Wicked Hathern Brewery. These events will be run on the first Thursday of every month and will be free. More information will be available in the new year, but if you are interested and would like more information please contact Guy Hodge G.Hodge@lboro.ac.uk

Taste of Leicestershire Sunday Lunch On the first Sunday of each month a Burleigh court will be serving a special Local food inspired Sunday lunch menu. The first Taste of Leicestershire lunch will be served on Sunday 4th January, please contact The Burleigh Court reception to book or for more information. 01509 633033 The first menu is include at the end of the newsletter...

Visit our home energy tips page… http://www.lboro.ac.uk/sustainability/awareness/its-better-off/at-home/index.html

Doing your bit… 1. Switch off lights when leaving a room unoccupied 2. Try using natural daylight as much as possible 3. Switch off your monitor when not in use. Even if

only for 10 mins 4. Turn PCs and other equipment off when not in

use. Really off, not onto standby 5. Make sure shared equipment isn’t left forgotten

about – install a timer plug 6. Do not leave energy intensive research

equipment if it is not necessary to do so 7. Make sure energy saving features on PCs,

printers and photocopiers are enabled 8. Unplug mobile and laptop chargers between uses 9. Dress for the season 10.Shut windows and doors when the heating /

cooling is on, Use blinds to reduce solar gain in summer

Did you know… The university spend around £7m each year on Gas, Electricity and Water

In the past 3 years over £750k has been spent on energy

saving projects on campus. These projects range from CHP, Voltage optimisation, LED lighting, BMS controls, Boiler burner replacements and improved controls.

Around 50% of the campus Electricity is provided by CHP.

(Combined Heat and Power visit for more info

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/sustainability/carbon/chp.html )

The Main Boiler House CHP on Central Park has saved £1.1m in 3 years

The university emitted 27,539 tonnes of Co2 in 2013/14

2010/11 = 1.87tCo2 per full time student 2013/14 = 1.16tCo2 per full time student

2013/14 LU

0.179kg of Co2 per M2 of academic and support

space.

Other green tips • Report maintenance issues, like leaking taps or drafty windows • Don't fill the kettle to make a single cup of coffee • Print or photocopy on both sides of the paper • Use recycling facilities wherever possible • Walk: don't take the lift if you don't need to using the stairs will keep you fit! • Encourage your colleagues to go green in the office

Are you

energy AwAre?

1 tonne of Co2 is…

• 2,023kWh of Electricity, approx. £220 of Electricity • 5,403kWh of Gas, Approx. £160 of Gas

1 tonne of Co2 would fill… • 100,000 party balloons • 6 double decker busses • 1 x 10m diameter hot air balloon