Go Green

At BU聽we recognise the increasing importance of living in a sustainable way and being a conscientious member of the local and global community.聽We鈥檙e committed to playing our part in delivering the聽, which is why...

We're investing in聽biodiversity and a聽sustainable campus聽with things like wild flower gardens and聽a biomass heating system in Poole House
Our newest buildings,聽The Student Centre and The Fusion Building,聽have earned 'excellent' BREEAM* ratings and are kitted out with PV solar panels, ground source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, LED and natural lighting - this and more will be included in the buildings under construction
PV solar panels are currently being added to Poole House
We're working with Chartwells to promote聽
You'll soon see new聽waste bins where you can pour away liquid before disposing of cups and lids
Finding out how you聽travel to campus聽was so important to us last month and why we'll be sharing聽new plans for聽sustainable travel聽next semester聽
This year we聽employed 'Green' ResLifeBU Assistants.

There are lots of things you can do聽to develop your sustainability knowledge and skills too - through both your curriculum and learning, and聽extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, or getting involved wth joining聽SUBU's .

We met with the聽current Green ResLifeBU聽Assistants (RA), Joe and Leone, who聽use their passion for the environment to organise sustainability-themed activities for students living in BU accommodation to learn about global issues in interactive ways: 鈥淭his role is so much more than we聽thought it would be. It鈥檚 so varied and flexible, and we鈥檙e working with lots of people to deal with relevant or contemporary issues and make the biggest impact that we can.鈥�

Over the past few months Joe and Leone have worked hard to encourage students living in BU accommodation聽to be sustainable in all aspects of their lives by running a variety of events ranging including聽handing out free vegetables and getting students involved with聽re-vamping the courtyards at various halls by planting new flowers.

Joe considers the importance of their relaxed and friendly approach as being vital to student involvement: 鈥淧art of our role is to give students a chance to actively engage with their peers and discuss green and sustainability issues. Our events allow people to laugh and enjoy themselves as well as discuss the topic in a very informal, casual and fun environment.鈥�

The Green RAs are also working with the wider BU community to improve sustainability on campus. A big focus at the moment is the聽鈥�Student Switch Off鈥� campaign, which challenges students living in BU accommodation聽to turn off devices, lights and other ways to聽reduce electricity聽consumption,聽with prizes for the winners.聽

Dawn Parman, BU鈥檚 Welfare And Communities Officer said: 鈥淲ith lots planned for the future, the Green RA role is able to have an impact on both BU鈥檚 sustainability and the students of BU who are being introduced to more sustainable ways of living and thinking. Their work contributes to the bigger goal of making BU a truly sustainable institution which creates conscientious and forward thinking-graduates.鈥�

Going聽Green: Joe and Leone鈥檚 top tips

Cook with the lid on your pan - it鈥檚 quicker and saves energy
Turn the water temperature down to save water and energy on heating
If you鈥檙e able, take the stairs, not the lifts鈥� or even do half and half!
Share cooking duties with your flatmates 鈥� this is a great way to spend time together and you鈥檒l save money, energy and time!
Use a reusable coffee cup - only 1 in 400 coffee cups gets recycled in the UK - you鈥檒l get discount at BU outlets too
Take reusable bags when you go shopping instead of buying new ones each time
Recycle! Either by reusing food containers or putting waste in your recycling bin so it can begin a new life as something new
Wash your clothes at 30 degrees to cut the energy used by 40%聽and聽protect your clothes
Ask for a china cup at BU outlets instead of using a single-use one
Switch off your lights and devices when you鈥檙e not using them鈥� it鈥檚 simple!