| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.52 |
| Liaison | Maria Kirrane |
| Submission Date | July 28, 2022 |
University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Maria
Kirrane Sustainability Officer Office of the Director of Buildings and Estates |
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Name of the campaign:
A brief description of the campaign:
The "Love our Library" campaign evolved from the activities of the Green Energy Team in UCC Library, set up through the "Saver Saves" scheme. After signing up to the fund, the Library put together a team of "Green Energy Champions" that set about monitoring energy usage and putting actions in place to reduce consumption. In the Summer of 2017, it was decided to also target waste. A complete ban on disposable coffee cups was implemented in the library and a "binless system" introduced whereby all bins were removed from every floor of the library and two "recycling stations" erected on the ground floor. The library was chosen as a focal building to reach every student as the majority of all students in UCC would walk through the main entrance of the library at some point in the year. The building has one entrance and exit and the highest footfall of any building in UCC. Bright and bold signage was erected to inform students of the new changes, as well as the outcomes of these changes later in the year. Periodic stands are held in the foyer running competitions for reusable mugs and gathering feedback from students. :
Both staff and students must now take their waste from their desks upon leaving the library, and dispose of it in at the waste stations. This means that there are no more confusing single small bins dotted around the building. When people take their waste to the stations, they are greeted with a well laid out system, with proper labelling, informing them of what goes into which bin.
Since the coffee cup ban was introduced, the Student’s Union have secured funding to give every incoming first year student a reusable cup at orientation. In addition, water fountains in the library have been upgraded in recent years and signage erected to make sure people know where they can dispose of their bottles.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
Before beginning this campaign an audit of the library showed that there were 160 individual bins, each with a plastic bag and a high level of contamination from disposable coffee cups. Recycling levels in the library have increased significantly (from negligible to 70%). In addition, through centralised waste disposal, we estimate that 10,000 plastic bin liners will be saved every year. A major positive impact has been the secured funding for provision of reusable cups to all incoming first year students. In addition, the success of the library campaign has resulted in four other departments getting on board with the Saver Saves scheme, to run similar campaigns in their buildings.
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
UCC is currently piloting two systems for the greening of our labs and research facilities. A Green Lab Community has been established across all of our major research buildings to include technical staff, postdoctoral staff, academic staff and research students, across disciplines including physics, chemistry, pharmacy, bioscience, anatomy, microbiology, food science etc. Two Green Lab certification systems are currently being piloted in two labs for each discipline. These are:
My Green Lab: https://www.mygreenlab.org/
LEAF: https://www.greenlabassociates.com/news-notes/2019/2/2/developing-leaf-a-new-tool-to-make-your-lab-green
Both systems include a detailed process to quantify baseline data on energy, water, waste, emissions etc in a lab. Putting an action plan in place and monitoring and evaluating progress.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Both systems include a detailed process to quantify baseline data on energy, water, waste, emissions etc in a lab. Putting an action plan in place and monitoring and evaluating progress.
The trial of both pilots commenced in UCC in summer 2021, thus measured positive impacts are not yet available but will be available once the certification process is complete.
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.