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This is the result of a number of factors which have been put in place over 2012/13. A new Environmental Sustainability Strategy has been introduced following consultation across theÌýInstitutionÌýand approval by ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Council. This sets out ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº's core sustainability aims and its targets and commitments.

Alongside the Strategy, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº has started to reportÌýannuallyÌýon its Environmental Sustainability performance - this is available on the . There continues to be improvements to the way in which ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº manages its operational impacts: carbon emissions reduced by 3% in 2011/12; waste recycling has increased; waste produced has decreased; and water use has reduced. Unfortunately, due to way that the Green League isÌýcompiled, we don't get recognition for some of these performance improvements.

There are many challenges ahead: ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº continues to grow; our building portfolio includes listed heritage buildings, complex laboratories, space which needs to be flexible and adaptable to new research demands - allÌýposingÌýchallenges in the way that we can reduce carbon and energy use; there is an increasing need for high performance computing as part of our research; and environmental sustainability is not always the main priority or the focus of our attention in our work and study. However, there are also opportunities as demonstrated by the increasing number of people interested in undertakingÌýenvironmentalÌýresearch on and around the campus.

The ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Environmental Sustainability team would like to thank you for your continued support and look forward to further engagement in 2013 and 2014.

Next, even more good news…¹û¶³Ó°Ôº awarded HEFCE green grantÌý

Earlier this year, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº put forward a project proposal as part of a bid to the HEFCE Green Revolving Fund. The proposal was developed by a team including participants from ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Estates, ¹û¶³Ó°ÔºÌýEnvironmentalÌýSustainability, and ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Department of Chemistry and will trial a new free cooling system in the Christopher Ingolt Building. If the technology proves to be successful, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº will consider wider roll out in otherÌýareasÌýof theÌýbusiness.

Richard Jackson, Head of Environmental Sustainability, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Estates