UPSU and the Environment
Welcome to the Environmental pages at upsu.net.
We're always looking at what we can do to reduce our impact on the environment and to ensure our actions do not effect anyone negatively.
This page lays out our environmental Policy, lists our main impacts and aspects and what we're doing to diminish our effects. It also contains information and ideas to help reduce anyone's environmental
Download the Environmental Supplement from Pugwash Issue 50 here!
This supplement contains news from around the world related to environmental changes occurring today.
Check out NUS campaign to reduce your carbon footprint http://snapitoff.nus.org.uk/latest/
What We Do
- Recycle all cardboard, plastic bottles, glass and any used cans including aluminium. We also offer recycling facilities for mobile phones, printer cartridges, shoes and books.
- Review our energy and water usage to examine where we can reduce and streamline our operations.
- Ask our students and staff to contribute ideas to how the Union can be greener.
- Ensure work computers and photocopiers are switched off at the end of each day.
- Enter competitions to keep ourselves focused on environmental issues. (Sound Environmental Impact Award Silver standard two years running)
What You Can Do
Tips on lowering your bills
These are just a few helpful hints but if you have more ideas or anything to add please add a comment at the bottom.
Electrical Waste
- Switch off don't stand by. Leaving computers and TVs on standby through out the year can add a third to your electric bills
- Change your bulbs to energy saving one they are now much cheaper and save you cash and more reliable than standard bulbs
- Try out the carbon calculator to see what else you can do
Heating Waste
- Timers are great to cut you energy bills. Ensure its on 30min's before you wake and turns off 30min's before you intend to leave. Heating systems keep houses warm for up to 30mins after they turn off
- Ensure all windows are closed when heating is on. It sounds simple but happens often when no one looks
Water Waste
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth a running will expel 6-8litres a minute
- Displacing water in your toilet cistern with 500ml bottle filled with water will reduce your water waste by 500ml every time
- Keep a bottle of water in the fridge rather than running the tap till its cold for a drink
- Wash vegetable's in a bowl rather than under running water
Traveling
- Walking to uni or the pubs and clubs in Portsmouth rather than a taxi is cheaper and a healthier option
- Public transport can be a cheaper alternative to a personal car especially where the bulk of its use is to the supermarket and back
- When traveling by car keep your windows up whenever you can to reduce air resistance and improve your fuel consumption
- When driving. Break slowly into corners and roundabouts. Most fuel is used in acceleration slowing down slowly will mean you keep your speed into corners and need less acceleration when pulling away
Food
- Buying food from local producers is a lot fresher and so will last a lot longer it also has less packaging and has a lower carbon footprint as it has traveled a short distance
Recycle
Any old phones or ink cartridges or batteries lying around with no use for them. Bring them into the Union reception and they can be recycled or sent to charities to help raise some cash!
SMART Environmental Targets for UPSU
Historical targets:
Energy consumption: To reduce electricity and gas consumption by 20% by the end of 2012 using 2004-05 as the baseline year.
Water consumption: To reduce water consumption by 15% by 2011 from a 2007-08 baseline year
Recycling: To increase the recycling rate to 50% by the end of the 2009/10 academic year. The forecast for 2012 is a recycling rate of 60%.
New targets for 2011:
Carbon Reduction: To reduce carbon emissions from its activities by 30% from a 2009/10 baseline by 2016.
The activities that will be measured to judge performance against the target will be:
Electricity and gas use (kWh)
Fleet vehicle fuel use (litres)
Water use m3)
Waste and recycling volumes (tonnes)
Improvement actions for 2011
Continue to monitor energy use, water use and recycling
Install movement sensors in toilets
Install LED spot lights in the Waterhole Bar
Install light level sensors to lighting in the glass fronted reception area
Provide building shut down instructions for caretakers, cleaners and security
Provide energy efficient lighting scheme modes for spaces
Improve data capture for travel mileage/ fuel use
Download our Environmental Policy here!
Find out about the unions current most significant Environmental Aspects and Impacts
Find out about the unions current audit results and targets
