How to go green
Every day we can all take simple yet highly effective steps to reduce waste and spare vital resources. LSBU students can join the LSBU People and Planet group and contribute towards making a positive difference to the environment. Visit the People and Planet website for further information.
Here are the Sustainable Development Group's tips & recommendations for how you can easily go green.
Video conferencing
Leading environmental organizations highlight video as an effective “green” technology to reduce global warming. Video conferencing saves time, cost and travel. LSBU Media Services can set up a video conference via internet for any local, national or international video conferencing situation. Contact the Help Desk on ext. 6500 or email helpdesk@lsbu.ac.uk
Reduce lighting energy
Remember that the last one out should turn off any lights. By switching lights off in empty rooms and corridors you could cut your lighting costs by as much as 15%.
Don't use more light than you need. If you're only working in one part of the room don't have all the lights on. You don't need to strain your eyes but try not to use more light than you need. As it's free and won't damage the environment make the most of natural light by keeping your windows clear.
Save lighting energy
If you're only working in one part of the room don't have all the lights on.
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Reduce IT energy
Switch off your computer, monitor and printers when not in use. You need to lead by example, but it's also important to make it a team effort. Ask your colleagues where they think energy is being wasted and encourage them to think about how they can all use less.
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Conserve water
Take a shower instead of taking a bath. It can save around 50 litres of water.
Turn the taps off when you brush your teeth and you could save up to 5 litres of water a minute? If the entire adult population of England and Wales did the same, this could save a total of 180 mega litres a day, enough to supply nearly 500,000 houses.
For further information visit:
Talking rubbish at LSBU
Estates & Facilities Directorate minimise the amount of waste that goes to landfill. There are green recycling bins across the Southwark campuses. This system is used for a wide range of recyclable materials – from paper to empty drinks cans & plastic bottles.
If you have any suggestions for recycling or more information please contact: LSBU Estates & Facilities Helpdesk 020 7815 6800 or EAFHelpdesk@lsbu.ac.uk
For further information, download the Talking rubbish at LSBU flyer (PDF 91KB - opens in new window).
Recycle
At home, the statisticians say that nine out of ten of us have kerbside collection recycling schemes so if your local council doesn't already provide a recycling box or bag call them and check you haven't been missed out. At work, use recycling bins available across the university for all mixed paper. Why not reuse the blank sides of unwanted paper for notepads.
Recycling Tip!
Reuse the blank sides of unwanted paper for notepads.
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Think before you print
Only print what you need and try to read off the computer screen as much as possible. If you need to print do it double-sided, fitting as much text as you can or you find readable on the printed page. Try to buy refillable printer cartridges or ensure your printer cartridges are recycled.
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Go Fairtrade
Buying Fairtrade is about securing better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. Whilst sales of Fairtrade products continue to soar change is still not happening quickly enough for millions of farmers around the world who remain trapped in 'trade poverty'. 1 in 4 bananas sold are now Fairtrade and in 2007 Fairtrade sales topped £150m, an increase of 130%.
For further information visit:
Share teaching and learning resources and ideas
The EnergyXchange gives you ideas on motivating people to save energy. There are materials from successful sustainable development campaigns. A good place for ideas and to see what others have done. You can share your own ideas and sustainable development materials.
The LSBU Student People & Planet Society poster and video resources are copyright free and under a Creative Commons Share-A-Like Licence.
Oak Tree House is a low energy and low carbon demonstration house run by Woking Borough Council. It demonstrates energy efficiency and renewable technology. Prior to being refurbished, the house had few energy saving measures and failed to meet the Government's Decent Homes standard. When improving the property to meet the standard, Woking decided to show the range of energy efficiency and renewable technologies that could be retrofitted in existing houses.
You can walk through most of the facilities and Woking Council runs free tours showing domestic, sustainable energy use and saving. Watch a filmed walk-through of the house or book your own tour at http://www.actionsurrey.org/house.
Sustainable Energy - without the hot air (e-book)
A common complaint about energy coverage in the press is that “you can never find any actual numbers”.
With the tag-line “numbers, not adjectives”, Professor David MacKay of Cambridge University has written the book “Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air”. The book puts together some “energy plans that add up” and is definitely worth a read.
Download the e-book Sustainable Energy - without the hot air (PDF 47.3MB - opens in new window)
If you wish to use any material in this e-book, please read the disclaimer on page 6.
Eco-Tube - the Green Youtube
Eco-Tube is the Green Youtube with a huge collection of films online about issues facing our civilisation today.
The site hosts videos such as news, virals and eco product reviews and well worth a visit to pick up tips on how you can become more eco-friendly and also share with others your own eco-ideas.
Human Footprint Calculator
Have you ever wanted to know your own carbon and resource footprint? Based on your birth date, the interactive calculator tells you how much you have consumed and the impact you have had on the environment during your lifetime, as well as providing some tips on what you can do to reduce it.
Access the Human Footprint Calculator
Travel sensibly
Get on your bike, walk or take public transport wherever you can. If you drive to work and take a regular route join a car-sharing scheme. On average each of us in the UK pours 3.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year from our personal car usage and a further 1.3 tonnes from aircraft flights.
For further information visit:
Purchase wisely
The fewer miles involved in producing products and helping them reach consumers the better. Buy locally where you can and purchase sustainable products. Shop online and you can purchase a range of sustainable products, from books to bricks.
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Reduce heating energy
Simply turn down any room or radiator thermostat by just 1 degree Celsius and you'll save 10% of your energy consumption.
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Reduce waste
Do what you can to purchase goods that carry less packaging. Carry a reusable bag with you for your shopping.
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