Current projects

Goldsmiths has joined other large London organisations to sign up to the new carbon saving programme, Green500, run by the Mayor of London. This programme aims to help large Business Organisations cut Climate Change emissions by three million tonnes by 2010, saving £300 million in energy bills. This work will run in parallel with the Carbon Management Programme.

Carbon Trust
Goldsmiths has joined other large London organisations to sign up to the new carbon saving programme, Green500, run by the Mayor of London. This programme aims to help large Business Organisations cut Climate Change emissions by three million tonnes by 2010, saving £300 million in energy bills. This work will run in parallel with the Carbon Management Programme.

Goldsmiths is working with the Carbon Trust, an independent company funded by the Government, to identify carbon saving opportunities within the College and implement them. By working with them, the College aims to reduce its carbon consumption by 15% over the next three years.

The potential carbon saving opportunities have been grouped into the following categories: energy management; site and administrative management; sustainability. These groupings include new building specification, waste, recycling, heat and lighting, travel, purchasing policy and so on.
The work in collaboration with the Carbon Trust was kicked off with a conference where staff gave their ideas. Many innovative proposals came out of the conference and some very good common sense ideas. Estates pulled all these ideas into a coherent plan that has been formally submitted to the Carbon Trust.

Alongside the Carbon Trust Project, the College is, with the help Ian Wiles an energy consultant, reviewing use of energy within its buildings. For advice or further information please contact Estates by email estates (@gold.ac.uk) or phone ext 7121.

Travel plan
The College is working with Steer Davies Gleave, working in conjunction with Transport for London (TfL), and the Students’ Union, to develop a travel plan that sets out a range of measures and initiatives to promote sustainable travel choices and options for its students, which can be widened to be of benefit to staff too.

Data from the survey should also help track travel patterns and methods, which will be useful in measuring energy consumption from students’ commutes to and from campus.

Immediate feedback suggests that the most practical things that can be done initially are improving facilities and provision for cyclists on campus, or enhancing the environment that immediately surrounds local bus stops.

Reusable mugs
The College's Residences, Catering and Conference Services (RCCS), in conjunction with the Students' Union, have set up a reusable mug scheme. Staff and students are able to buy a reusable Goldsmiths branded mugs from Loafers café. Mugs are £3.50 which will include their first hot drink.

Local initiatives
The A-Z guide is an excellent quick guide and answers nearly anything you need to know about recycling and waste minimization in and out of College. The Environmental Policy Working group are pleased that the Environmental Policy has been adopted but this is only the start.

There are very successful paper and toner cartridge recycling schemes in operation and a composting area has been established as a result of work from staff and students.
There are long term plans to allocate a site for recycling glass and cans and newsprint, although in the short term this is not feasible because of the current building works. Until the dedicated site is set-up, staff and students are encouraged to take recyclable items to the recycling ‘cow print’ banks, on the corner of St James and New Cross Road, and opposite Iceland.

Large containers for a wide range of waste (including shoes, clothes, cloth and the usual paper and glass) can be found in the New Cross Gate Sainsbury’s car park.


Students’ Union
The Students’ Union is carbon neutral and their environmental work has won them local and national awards. They are working closely with the College to share best-practice tips and advice in all our environmental work.

If a student would like to create a web page relating to the student take on environmental issues within college or halls, please contact Frances Renton (f.renton@gold.ac.uk) in IT Services and a link can easily be created.

Contacts

• Carbon Trust, Estates (estates)
• Recycling, waste management and Environmental Policy Working Group - Erica Drew (in College every other Tuesday) (e.drew)
• Computer recycling - Dave Harvey (d.harvey)
• Paper recycling - Sarah Gibbon (repro)
• Cycling-Frances Renton (f.renton)
• Students’ Union (gcsu)
• RCCS (rccs)