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UWESU Go Green Week 2013 - 4 little things you can do differently

People & Planet is the largest student network in Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment.
Go Green Week is their annual week of action on climate change, and this is UWESU’s very first one!
This year, we’d love it if you tried four small things to make a difference -

  • Enjoy meat free
  • Ditch the car
  • Shower shorter
  • Switch stuff off
None of them is a big commitment, but if lots of us do them it could really mean something.

Plus look out for special deals on organic products in the SU shop on Monday, and on cycling stuff on Tuesday.

Food

If you'd normally eat meat a few times a week, why not go meat-free for a day or two?
It's good for your carbon footprint...

(Did you know producing one cheeseburger emits about 3.1kg of CO2 - about the same as running a computer for four days?)

  • ...good for your pocket...
  • ...good for the animals...
  • ...and good for you!

Paul McCartney agrees!



Travel

If you normally drive to uni why not car share, or take the bus?

It’s more sociable than driving, there’s no dreary walk from car park 20 and your journey doesn’t have to be wasted time – catch up on the news, Facebook or Twitter (can’t do that in the car!)

Plus, as this video demonstrates, it turns out the bus is pretty cool!


Or, do you have a bike but don’t normally cycle? Perhaps you don’t like the traffic, or the hills, or just wish you felt a bit more confident on the road?

If so, join our bike train! At 8am on Tuesday 12 February, from the arches on Gloucester Road to Frenchay in time for 9 o’clocks, on what someone called ‘the nicest, quietest and flattest route I’ve ever tried!’ Super friendly too, and led by trained ride leaders.

Click here to sign up!

Showering

Did you know?! People shower more today than 10 years ago, up as much as 5 times – and not just to get clean but e.g. to take a break or feel good.

This would be ok but the environmental impact of heating and processing our water is huge – the same as all air flights taken by UK citizens in one year – that’s over 100 million tonnes of polluting greenhouse gases.

If we all showered shorter – try less than four minutes – it would make a big difference.

Switch stuff off

Just do it! Save energy and combat climate change by one simple action.

UWE students are cutting energy use by over 13% through the NUS Student Switch off campaign. Over 550 students have pledged to support the campaign over 27% of halls students this year. SSO will be on Frenchay campus on Friday 15 Feb.

About Sustainability

Universities and Students’ Unions have a responsibility to become more sustainable: environmentally, socially and economically. UWESU works closely with the University to embed sustainability in all we do.

We approach sustainability holistically – not as an ‘added extra’ – and recognise that it is part of the everyday life of global citizens. Sustainability isn’t just about carbon – it’s a way of thinking about our relationships with each other and our planet.

Want to find out more and do something to make a difference?


Make sure UWESU makes a difference!

Examples of what UWESU is doing:


  • We are running bike trains: sociable cycle commuting on safe, quiet, easy routes arriving at university in time for 9 o’clock classes – check www.uwesu.org/sports/cycling and www.facebook.com/uwe.sustainability for details.
  • We are consulting widely on the new Students’ Union building, to ensure it meets everyone’s needs and is as sustainable as possible.
  • We use biodegradable plastic drinking glasses in the SU bars.
  • We help to run UWE’s annual sustainability week and next year will take part in People & Planet’s Go Green Week – 11-17 February 2013
  • We are entering this year’s NUS Green Impact Awards, an environmental awards scheme, which requires that we do all sorts of practical things to cut our carbon footprint – from buying low impact fridges to changing staff practices.
  • We are entering this year’s Fairtrade Business Awards and promoting Fairtrade products in our shop and cafés, encouraging students to use their buying power to support producers across the developing world with better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and money to invest in their community.
  • We train all staff on sustainability issues.
  • Our VP Sports Nina, is running a healthy living campaign - Nina's Cookery Corner

What UWESU has achieved so far:


  • In March 2012 we won two awards in the first ever Bristol Fairtrade Business Awards:
  • Gold in the Best Fairtrade Retailer category for the SU shop.
  • Winner of Best Fairtrade Caterer for the Full of Beans coffee cart.
  • Gold in the 2010 –11 NUS Green Impact Awards – one of 27 unions to win this award.
  • Silver in the 2009–10 NUS Sound Environmental Impact Awards – the precursor to Green Impact.
  • Bronze in the 2008–09 NUS Sound Environmental Impact Awards.

Students' Union Environmental Aspects And Environmental Impacts

Staff and Student Sustainability Engagement Objectives


Aim

To develop and implement a range of opportunities to offer the time, place and resources for UWE staff and students to engage in the sustainability journey at the University.

Objectives

  • Work closely with the Students’ Union
  • Deliver an annual Sustainability Week
  • Continually expand and improve the sustainability champions network
  • Run an annual energy saving competition in halls of residence
  • Run initiatives to increase recycling in halls of residence
  • Maximise opportunities for student coursework to link to sustainability management on campus
  • Identify university funding for student led sustainability projects
  • Student involvement in development and monitoring of carbon management plan
  • Provide space for student fruit and vegetable growing projects
  • Staff induction to cover sustainability policy and practice
  • Student induction to cover sustainability policy and practice

Useful Links



Other links:


  • NUS Going Green: National Union of Students website with articles on students and sustainability.

  • NUS Student Switch Off: a not-for-profit campaign with competitions and information to encourage students to save energy.
  • UWE’s Institute for Sustainability, Health and Environment, bringing together a unique blend of knowledge and skills to support the creation of a healthy, sustainable and low carbon future.
  • People and Planet, the largest student network in Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment.
  • EcoJam: a directory of Bristol’s green and ethical businesses, organisations, initiatives, events, jobs and free stuff.
  • Fairtrade Foundation: this non-profit organisation administers Fairtrade accreditation in the UK.
  • Forum for the Future: a non-profit organisation working globally with business and government to create a sustainable future.
  • 10:10: join over 100,000 others and find out what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint by 10% in a year.
  • Oxfam: Global Citizenship. Global Citizens are conscious of the wider world and their roles within it; value diversity; are outraged by social injustice; participate in the community at a range of levels; take responsibility for their actions; and do what they can to make the world more equitable and sustainable.