Brilliant news, we have converted 50% of our electricity supply from brown to green! Which means instead of using electricity generated by burning coal and gas we are now using electricity from lovely 100% renewable biomass!
We currently spend over 5M per annum on electricity, so the even better news is the green energy is cheaper than the brown stuff, as it is exempt from Climate Change Levy (a tax on commercial electricity supplies).
Haven power will be supplying us electricity derived from 100% renewable biomass which is provided by their parent company Drax Power. Drax Power work directly with individual farmers and landowners to secure biomass from sustainable sources and to reinforce this commitment with an established sustainability policy.
Through undertaking the largest steam turbine modernisation project in UK history and the largest renewable, biomass co-firing project in the world, Drax is set to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by over three and a half million tonnes each year.

Right this is not good- we have now had 3 people leave our team in as many months! Kay has left us to go back home to Nottingham. Ed- who looked after our EMS, was offered a graduate trainee scheme with Tesco- which is an opportunity he cold not turn down….

Ed second from Left and Kay- far right..have both left for pastures new

..and now James who was Ed’s “understudy” has been offered an amazing opportunity with Loughborough University- working on a 4 year Sustainable Construction EngD. This leaves us sad and a bit paranoid…only kidding, we know we are a great team to work with – it’s just we support and nurture our staff too well that they get headhunted!!!

James is leaving us after completing his MSc dissertation and helping steer us to EcoCampus gold standard.

This means we now have an opportunity for an Environmental Management Graduate Placement.

Newcastle University Sustainability Team is looking for a suitably experienced graduate for a 5 month student placement.

Salary is GBP 15,353 per annum pro rata

The graduate should have some experience in practical implementation of Environmental Management Systems.

The placement will mainly involve taking a leading role in the development of our EMS, EcoCampus (with guidance).

Please send a CV and covering letter outlining your experience in EMS implementation and why you are suitable for the role.

Please see below for the job description.

THE ROLE IS AVAILABLE TO FILL NOW. Closing date Friday Sept 30th

Please include mobile phone number in the application as interviews will be held at the start of October.

More info about the sustainability team and eco campus here: www.ncl.ac.uk/saveit

Job description

Eco campus Environmental Management System

Newcastle University

Student placement project (Platinum phase of Eco campus) EMS Officer

Main purpose

Support the function of the Estates Support Service by developing the EcoCampus Environmental Management System

Main duties and responsibilities

Implements the EMS, specifically the operating and checking phases (equivalent to phases 4 and 5 of BS8555)
Completes training plan for all staff.
Develops training delivery in conjunction with Staff Development Unit.
Develops operational control procedures in line with objectives and targets.
Communicates roles and responsibilities of EMS to staff.
Develops a procedure for documenting EMS procedures.
Develops a system to ID and respond to environmental communications and emergencies.
Completes the EMS Manual
Begins audit planning and developing monitoring procedures
Conducts internal EMS and operational audits
Attends weekly meetings to progress the EMS

Dimensions

Providing help and support to the Eco campus EMS implementation team.
Carry out desk based work, interviewing and external research and investigative work.
Attend external forums, networking groups and training sessions.

Knowledge skills and experience

Good working knowledge of Environmental Management Systems
Numerate and literate
Good working knowledge of MS office
Good interpersonal skills
Planning and Organisation
Weekly reporting to the EMS management team
Assisting in reporting to the EMS implementation team, including senior management
Manage own workload
Uses initiative and works well to deadlines

Internal and external relationships

Liaise with staff of all categories.
Attend workshops training and network events facilitated by Newcastle University and third parties.

Please contact:

Daniel O’Connor | Waste Manager
daniel.oconnor@ncl.ac.uk
T: 0191 2223963
M:07807070339
F: 0191 2226276

Exactly 11 months ago today, I started work as the Environmental Co-ordinator Support Officer in Newcastle University’s Sustainability Team. My role was to support the network of over 70 Environmental Co-ordinators (ECs) in meeting sustainability objectives, in accordance with our Environmental Management System (EMS), EcoCampus.

Throughout my employment, I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of staff and students, on a variety of sustainability issues, ranging from recycling and waste, to energy efficiency, to biodiversity. The one part of my role that provided the most enjoyable experiences is the communications – actively engaging staff, students, University stakeholders and the wider community in how Newcastle University is reducing the impact its operations has on the environment. Through pioneering campaigns, community outreach and targeted marketing, the last year has seen the profile of the work undertaken by the team and the ECs increase, and awareness of environmental sustainability issues, campus facilities and local achievements has risen.

I leave today a better person for spending my time in this role. I have learnt so much; from energy management, to waste legislation, to communication skills. I go away with a wealth of experience in project management, targeted communications and technical aspects of environmental sustainability issues and solutions.

Of course, my job would not have anywhere near as exciting were it not for my fabulous colleagues. Their continued support on new ideas, kindness on hard days, and wonderful personalities have made Newcastle University a lovely place to work. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Estate Support Service, and have made some excellent friends. I am proud to have worked alongside my team mates, and feel greatly appreciative of all they have taught me. I will miss them all and my days certainly will not be the same without them.

Today is my last day, and I have been treated like a queen – my lovely work colleagues have showered me with gifts (posh chocolate – they know me so well!) and my superb student intern, Siobhan, gave me an amazing bouquet of flowers. I am so lucky to have had such a cracking bunch of people to work with.

So a final thankyou to everyone at Newcastle University – I have truly loved my time here and am very sad to be leaving. I wish everyone in the Estate Support Service and all the ECs, the best of luck going forward – remember; be sustainable!

From our last post, you can see that the Sustainability Team are award winners on our own turf – but send us to the big smoke and you get a lot of very stiff competition!

When we entered the Business Green Leaders Awards 2011, we thought we’d be very lucky to even get through to the next stage – in a nationwide hunt for the Sustainability Team of the Year, it would be challenging for us to get noticed amongst large corporations. But the efforts of the team, the ECs, and all University stakeholders in reducing our environmental impacts impressed the judges, and we were shortlisted for the award.

It was such an honour to have been recognised as one of the top 6 Sustainability Teams in the UK. But now we had that thirst for glory – could we win?! We had very worthy competition in the form of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Archant, BAE Systems, E.ON UK, and RS Consulting.

The awards evening was held in London, and was an ideal opportunity for Newcastle University to network and promote their efforts, raising the University’s profile in the sustainability and environmental sectors.

As it was a team award, as many members of the 8 strong Sustainably Team attended the event. Off to the big smoke we went, five of us cramped into a car (car sharing – sustainable method of transport!). The black tie awards event was a great evening, hosted by Jeremy Hardy, from Radio 4, with a lovely three course meal.

Lucy Latham, Carbon Emissions Officer, and Kay Gregory, EC Support Officer, sit down to dinner, with the stage in the background.

With Daniel ‘Waste Manager’ O’Connor practicing his W sign (W for Winner! see pic below), how could we lose?! But, despite Lucy ‘Carbon Emissions Officer’ Latham’s pre-written acceptance speech, we were unsuccessful. We lost out on the award for Sustainability Team of the Year to Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s Carbon Management Team.

Many congratulations to all the winners. You can find out more about the other awards, at http://ev785.eventive.incisivecms.co.uk/static/shortlist

Kay, with Dan O’Connor, Waste Manager (making the W sign!), Hannah Munro, Sustainability Support Officer, and Matt Dunlop, Energy Manager.

Regardless of the evening’s outcomes, we’d like to thank all the University’s Environmental Co-ordinators, and all University staff and students for their continued efforts in assisting the Sustainability Team to reduce the impact of the University’s operations on the environment. To be shortlisted for the award means the University as a whole has been recognised as achieving success in its aim to become environmentally sustainable, and that achievement would not occur without the help and support of ECs and University staff / students.

Many thanks.

The second annual Environment Awards were held as part of the ‘Celebrating Success’ event on Monday 20th June 2011 in the Courtyard, to recognise the achievements of our staff and students in striving to reduce the University’s environmental impact. A great time was had by all, with canapes and drinks, as Professor Chris Brink, Vice Chancellor, gave a speech to celebrate the success of University staff. The event also includes the Spotlights awards, presented by Veryan Johnston, Executive Director of HR.

Heads of School and Spotlight awards winners also attended the event.

Professor Tony Stevenson, PVC for Sustainability, chats to Lucy and Rob, Environmental Co-ordinators for Architecture and Geography.

Professor Tony Stevenson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability, gave a speech celebrating the University’s achievements in environmental sustainability before announcing the winners, who all received an award made from recycled green glass from Professor Brink.

And the winners are…..

Outstanding individual contribution to reducing the University’s environmental impact (staff) – Clive Gerrard (former EC for ISS and former leader of the University’s Green ICT initiative) for his work on reducing the impact our computers have no the environment. Clive dedicated his award to all the staff in ISS who work on the project.

Outstanding group contribution to reducing the University’s environmental impact (Group/department/ecoteam/business unit) – Van Portering Team for their continued efforts with the furniture re-use scheme, reducing our waste to landfill by re-using our furniture inhouse. Award collected by Van Portering Team Leader Ian Beeby.

Outstanding student contribution to the environment (individual or group) – People and Planet (student network campaigning for environmental protection) for their work in engaging Newcastle University staff and students in environmental awareness. Award collected by P&P member, Matt Wilkinson.

Best environmental initiative – Robinson Library’s Sustainability Day for Year 8 and 9 pupils from Long Benton Community College, run by Sara Bird. The full day event engaged with the pupils on environmental sustainability topics including recycling and saving energy by showcasing the University’s efforts and activities design to get the pupils thinking about the issues the University faces in promoting sustainability. Julia Robinson, David Errington, and Jackie Dunn were also involved in the day.

Best recycling performance – In collaboration with O’Brien’s Waste Management – 16/17 Framlington Place for their recycling rate of 60.3%. Award accepted by Jennifer Molyneux, Head of Facilities Management in ESS, on behalf of the cleaners in this building, Julia Martin and Paula Errington.

And lastly….

Despite the Sustainability Team organising the Environment Awards, the team were shocked when Professor Tony Stevenson presented them with an honorary award for their efforts in reducing the University’s environmental impact by working towards the University’s sustainability objective. The award was accepted by Matt Dunlop (Energy Manager), Hannah Munro (Sustainability Support Officer), Edward Wright (EMS officer) and Kay Gregory (EC Support Officer) on behalf of the rest of the Sustainability Team (George Chambers, Assistant Energy Manager, Daniel O’Connor, Waste Manager, Lucy Latham, Carbon Officer, and James Upstill-Goddard, EMS assistant).

The Sustainability Team would like to thank the Environmental Co-ordinators and EcoTeam members, as well as the cleaning and portering staff for all their hard work in assisting the Sustainability Team to reach its environmental objectives. Without the support and hard work of these staff members, the initiatives and facilities put in place by the team would not be as successful.

Many thanks to all University staff for their efforts in reducing the University’s environment impact – keep up the good work!

Thanks for all the nominations we received. The third annual Environment Awards will take place next year… with a twist!

Congratulations go to the Newcastle University Sustainability team for being shortlisted for the inaugural BusinessGreen Leaders Awards 2011.

BusinessGreen Leaders Awards 2011 received a great number and quality of entries so it really is a fantastic achievement to have made the shortlist. The shortlist for each category highlights the genuine leaders in the emerging low carbon economy and will present the panel of esteemed judges with an extremely difficult task as they attempt to agree on the eventual winners.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 7 July 2011 at the Merchant Taylor’s Hall in London.

Lucy came into work yesterday on her bike. She usually walks, but on this occasion the sun was out, the wind was light and she was all over it, like white on rice.

There was one problem…the bike didn’t feel right…she struggled with the pedals, “what is wrong dear shopper- something feels awry”.

“Never mind” she thought, I will soldier on, out of Jesmond and into the city “Hello!” she cheered buzzing off the cycling and the summer vibes. As she cycled past the dog walkers..still feeling a bit out of sorts.

Arriving at work (early), her curiosity was piqued to such an extent that she asked Matt, the Energy Manager (and ‘core cyclist (20 miles round trip daily) to take her look at her bike at dinner time.

Turns out the last person who had rode Lucy’s bike had really long legs and set the height of the seat to maximum.

Here they are fixing the problem.

Lucy is now a very happy cyclist with a comfy seat.

Spotted this bin related heart break incident. When these bins were born in a factory somewhere, they had a glorious life set out in front of them. They were told they were going to England to be recycling bins- To help Newcastle University divert waste from landfill and recycle.

Imagine their joy when they arrived here and were given nice stickers and placed proudly in corridors and foyers to heroically collect recycling.

Now imagine the shock and horror when they were swiped away in the night and put to work as general waste bins. A sad end to a long journey….but can they be rescued from this artsy trade? Find out soon…

It’s a sad day for all the student interns at the Sustainability Team as our work placement has come to an end! Myself (Lisa Crossey), Hannah Howarth, Jonathan Kidd, Jennifer Lowery and Hannah Wright would like to say a big thank you to the team for all the support and encouragement they have shown us throughout the year.

Hannah Howarth had the following to say about her time with the team; “I’ve really enjoyed being part of the office and getting to know the members of the team because they are all really friendly. I’ve had an outrageous time! My favourite part of placement was carrying out the waste audit across the university it was really fun and interesting! Sometimes a lot of the things we study at university are quite theory based and so it is great to work on practical campaigns and do something hands-on.”

Jonathan Kidd and Jennifer Lowery also mentioned that the highlight of their placements was getting some real life work experience and working with a great team. When asked if they would recommend a placement with the Sustainability Team to other students they both replied “definitely!”

When asked what her favourite part of placement was, Hannah Wright said, “The free farewell lunch! [Laughs] No that was a joke, I really have enjoyed my time here. It was great gaining experience in a field related degree and working with professionals that are enthusiastic about their jobs.”

Overall it has been a great experience for all the student interns and again we would like to say another big thank you to the team! We hope that they have enjoyed the past year as much as we have and we wish everyone all the best in the future!

Lisa, Student Engagement Intern