1 University Environment And
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UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY STEERING GROUP Thursday 16th November 2017 at 2pm in CM2.08 Claus Moser Building AGENDA 1. Apologies and Absences 2. Actions List – 22nd June 2017 Actions list attached 3. Chair’s Remarks Key Projects 4. Root and Branch Campaign Theme & Branding - Attached 5. Keele University Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) and HyDeploy 6. Annual EAUC Conference 2018 - Update Estates and Operations 7. Environmental Manager’s Update - Attached 8. 2018 Sustainability Report 9. People and Planet Universities League 10. SDG Accord and Visibility of SDGs at Keele 11. Brite Green University Carbon Report for Academic Year 2015/16 12. Energy & Carbon Management Update including overview of 2016/17 Academic Year To receive the attached update Leadership and Governance 1 Education and Research 13. Education for Sustainability Developments To receive the attached update from the Director of Education for Sustainability - 14. Educational component of SEND 15. Sustainability Research and Business engagement To receive an update on sustainability-related research and business engagement activity. Updates from the Students’ Union International Activities 16. International Activities To receive an update on recent sustainability-related international activities 17. Any Other Business 18. Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 23rd January 2018 - 4pm Wednesday 14th March 2018 - 12 Noon Tuesday 12th June 2018 2pm - 4pm 2 University Environment and Sustainability Steering Group (ESSG) Actions List Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 11am Attendance: Professor Mark Ormerod (MO) Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost (Chair) Phil Butters (PB) Director of Estates and Development Dr Sharon George (SG) Sustainability Hub Manager Sam Gibbons (SGi) Environment and Campus Officer, Keele SU Elliot Jones (EJ) Energy Manager, Estates and Development Dr Zoe Robinson (ZR) Director of Education for Sustainability, School of Geology, Geography and Environment Dr Ian Madley (IM) Head of Partnership Development (Natural Sciences), Engagement and Partnerships Linda Sutton (LS) Procurement Manager, Finance Dr John White (JW) Deputy Director of IT Yanrong Hu Howard Bell (HB) Executive Support Officer, Vice-Chancellor’s Office (Secretary) Apologies: Jane Barker (JB) Head of Grounds, Estates and Development Huw Evans (HE) Environmental Manager, Estates and Development Peter Potts (PP) Head of Estates Planning and Compliance, Estates and Development Susan Warrender (SW) Head of Catering and Retail Item Decisions/Actions Responsibility Actions List – 23rd March • SEND and HyDeploy: IM and ZR had now met to 2017 discuss how best to promote the SEND and HyDeploy projects to the HE sustainability sector. • Green Impact Criteria – Procurement: HE and LS still HE& LS working on developing a new Green Impact criteria relating to procurement. HE & LS to report on progress at Group’s next meeting. • People and Planet Universities League: HE had yet to HE circulate the People and Planet methodology to the group. • MO, HE and Paul Buttery , Deputy Director of Finance, had met to discuss ways in which Keele’s scores in relation to Ethical investments could be improved. The matter was discussed at Business Review Committee and it was agreed that the University’s investment advisors would be pressed for more information on investments. • EJ reported that the next People and Planet Universities League assessment was due to start on 24th July using the same criteria as used previous assessments. The importance of updating the University website re Environment and Sustainability 1 Item Decisions/Actions Responsibility matters was emphasised because the website was the major source of information for the assessment. MO,ZR and • Green Week: MO, ZR and HW had yet to meet to HW draw up a response to the issues raised from the Sustainability Forum. • Energy Carbon Management Update: EJ reported that a new source of pellets used for Bio Mass energy generation had been identified. A study of this trial source of Bio mass was being undertaken. • Responsible Procurement Strategy: MO reported that the strategy was considered and endorsed at UEC. Chair’s Remarks None were made. Key Projects Internal and External • The group received and considered a short briefing on Communication Re: the campaign theme and brand put together by Energy, Environment and Russell Reader, Head of PR & Communications, in Sustainability conjunction with the Task and Finish Group established to look at developing a communication strategy both internal and external for Energy, Environment and Sustainability. • The Group commended the quality of the campaign theme and branding entitled “Root and Branch”. The brand enabled the inclusion of a wide range of environment and sustainability activities undertaken by various parts of the University under one brand. • The Campaign theme and branding would be discussed with the Chancellor sometime during graduation week. • Suggestions made in relation to Campaign theme and branding included: Include reference in the campaign theme to strategic aim 5 “ to promote environmental sustainability in all that we do” Add a mortar board graphic, a wind turbine and a book to the brand logo. Keele University Smart • IM updated the group on the selection process for the Energy Network contractors for the SEND project. Three preferred Demonstrator bidders had been selected. • 10 SMEs had been identified to take PhD students • Wardell Armstrong were undertaking a study reviewing the viability of renewable energy sources at Keele. The results of the review will feed into the Master planning exercise. Estates and Operations 2 Item Decisions/Actions Responsibility The Environmental • HE to circulate the Environmental Manager’s Update HE Manager’s Update electronically once back from paternity leave. Next Generation • The Group considered the report from the Sustainability Strategy and Environmental Association for Universities and Structure : Whole- Colleges. Institution Approaches to • The group’s attention was drawn to fact that the Sustainability in report makes reference to the fact that most Universities and Colleges institutions were reflecting on how they can contribute towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Keele does not make reference to the UN’s Sustainable Goals in relation to its environment and sustainability strategy. Energy & Carbon • The group noted the reduction in carbon emissions Management June 2017 over the last year against a back drop of an increasing Update growing campus. • Gas consumption was proving a challenge. Smarter building controls were being employed to limit heating. The group was informed of a pilot of room level controls taking place in the Moser Building. • The group discussed the positive ways in which the new Root and Branch campaign theme and brand could be used to communicate important messages in a more coherent way to students, staff and residents regarding energy and carbon management. Responsible Procurement • The group welcomed the Responsible Procurement Infographic Infographic which provided information about the online Supplier Engagement Tool. • LS to talk with Russell Reader about how best LS responsible procurement can be incorporated into new Root and Branch campaign theme and brand • It was agreed that the infographic should be place on LS the website in readiness for the next People and Planet Universities League assessment was due to start on 24th July. Education and Research Education for • ZR provided the group with an update on recent Sustainability achievement and activities relating to Education for Developments Sustainability. Highlighting in particular: Green App Educational Links to SEND : Environmental literacy Environmental Association • The group received a briefing on what was expected for Universities and of Keele as the host for the Annual EAUC Conference Colleges Annual in 2018. A copy of the venue Partnership proposal Conference (EAUC) 2018 was circulated prior to the meeting by ZR. • The group recognised that the Conference would 3 Item Decisions/Actions Responsibility require significant input from the University, but also a presented a significant opportunity to showcase what Keele does. • It was agreed that a Conference Organising Committee should be established and that its chair should be a senior member of staff. • The group highlighted the need to involve a number of areas around the university to host the Conference successfully: Keele Conferences, Directorate of Engagement and Partnerships, Marketing and Communications. Need for third party sponsorship was raised and the possibility of approaching Keele’s supplier base was suggested. Sustainability Research • IM updated the group on progress in relation the and Business Engagement HyDeploy project ; Raising the awareness of campus residents of the injection of hydrogen into the existing natural gas network over the Summer of Establishment of 2 post-doctoral energy related studentships with University of Chester; Bid for Innovative UK energy catalyst funding; International Activities • MO reported on his recent visit to China in May 2017 with the Dean of Internationalisation and accompanied Professor Zhong Fan, the academic Director of SEND. The focus was on the environment and energy fields. Any Other Business • Keele students attended the 2017 International Environment and Sustainable Development Student Forum at Tongji University on 5th June 2017. • Keele Green Move Out 2017: The group was informed that Keele Students had contributed