Little Green Guide - University of St Andrews

the university of st andrews brings you...
a
little
green
guide
welcome
This little green guide is packed with all the information you
need to live a greener, more ethical lifestyle whilst studying
in St Andrews.
Contents:
HOME: Energy & Water...............4
STUFF: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...8
FOOD.....................................13
TRANSPORT.............................20
HOW TO GET INVOLVED............24
A GREEN YEAR.........................28
You are joining a University committed to sustainability
throughout its operations, from the promotion of sustainable
transport, food and waste management, to our aim of
becoming the first university in the UK to be carbon neutral
in energy through initiatives like the Kenly wind farm and
Guardbridge biomass plant.
With the help of the handy tips in this guide, you too can help
reduce your carbon footprint and impact on the environment,
safeguarding the planet’s health for generations to come.
foreword
Since its earliest days, the University of St Andrews has been at the
forefront of academic exploration and innovation. Today, as we adapt
to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, we remain acutely
conscious of our institutional and individual responsibilities to engage
actively with critical local, national and global issues. A twenty-four hour
news culture and a profusion of online commentaries ensure that we
are all aware of what is happening to our planet, and of the real and
catastrophic impact that changes to our fragile environment are having
both close to home, and upon some of the most vulnerable members of
society across the world.
The University is committed to taking
an integrated approach to sustainable
development and to a multi-faceted
programme of change. We are actively
pursuing the use of renewable energy
sources,
paying
attention
to
the
environmental impact of our activities, and
setting targets for the reduction of energy
consumption and the attainment of carbon
neutrality. I am delighted that so many
members of our academic community are
taking part in initiatives such as Transition
University of St Andrews, working together
with members of the town towards the
achievement of localised sustainability.
There remains much to be done, and we all have our part to play. By
changing our attitudes towards energy consumption, and making
incremental changes to our daily routines, we can significantly reduce
our personal environmental footprint. The following pages offer practical
advice on how to implement changes in your own lifestyle. I hope that
you will find them both challenging and inspirational.
Louise Richardson
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
home
Whether you are in Halls of Residence, University
leased accomodation, private rented property or living
at home, everyone can be smart about how we live
and reduce the environmental footprint* of our homes.
*environmental footprint = the amount of productive land appropriated
on average by each person for food, water, transport, housing, waste
management and other uses.
4
energy
small changes make a big difference
• It sounds simple, but if you’re cold, put a jumper on before
turning on the heating.
• If you have a programmer for your central heating system,
use it - there is no point in having the heating on when
no-one is at home.
• Turning down the thermostat by 1° C can save you 325kg
of carbon dioxide emissions and around £40 a year on
your heating bills.
• Close your curtains at night in order to retain the heat
from the day.
• Turn off the radiator or heater if you open your window.
• Put a lid on your saucepan to cook your food faster and
reduce the amount of heat that escapes.
• Clear plastic window film (like cling film) is just as effective
as double glazing, saves 100-200kg of carbon dioxide
annually. It only costs £10 from Mica Hardware on South
Street, so get ready for a cosy winter...
interhall
If you are living in halls of
residence, your hall will be
rewarded for your energy saving
efforts through the Interhall
Energy Competition.
Living in a flat?
Contact St Andrews
Environmental Network for
free home energy advice
www.standrewsenergy.org
www.fb.com/interhall
5
appliances
In our hectic lifestyles it is inevitable that at the
end of the day the TV will be on, kettle boiling,
radio blaring, laundry tumbling and toaster
popping whilst your flatmates are playing xbox
with last night’s DVD whirring in the machine.
Here are a few tips to consider....
Dishwashers: Scrape dishes properly, and fill the dishwasher up
before switching it on. Try to use eco-friendly dishwasher powder
or liquids, set the temperature cycle to low and clean the filter out
regularly to keep it running efficiently.
Washing Machines: Around 90% of the energy used to wash
our clothes is used to heat the water. Many detergents are now
designed to wash effectively at 40° C or even 30° C, helping you
use less energy. Wait until you have a full load before using the
machine.
Tumble Dryers: Drying clothes outside or on a drying rack is
always the most energy efficient and cost effective option.
Kettle: Do not overfill your kettle when you are making a cuppa.
Only put as much water as you need in a kettle. Not overfilling the
kettle can save you 100kg of carbon dioxide a year.
Switch it off
The standby function on any particular device can use up to
80% of the energy that it needs to run properly, all of which is
wasted. Each home in the UK has an average of 12 appliances on
standby or charging. You should switch off your TV, DVD player,
stereo and games console every time (rather than leaving it on
standby) as this could save you up to £50 per year.
6
water
On average, we each use 150 litres of fresh water a day, which
has been made drinkable through an energy-intensive treatment
system, creating about 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every
year in the UK alone. More than half of this goes down the drain
without ever passing through our bodies.
Top Tips:
• Turn off the tap while cleaning your teeth, shaving or
washing your face. You can waste up to 9 litres a minute
by letting the water pour down the sink.
• Taking a short shower rather than a bath could save
you up to 400 litres a week.
• Only use the washing machine and the dishwasher
when you can put on a full load.
• Buy a reusable water bottle and avoid plastic water
bottles. Buy re-usable products rather than throwaways, as it takes water to make almost everything.
• Find out the source of your drinking water: the river,
lake or aquifer that supplies your home. Once you know
it, you’ll care about it.
Household
Cleaning
Keeping your home clean
and the environment too....
Febreeze
for pennies:
reuse your Febreeze
spray bottle - add 1/8
cup fabric softener, 2
tablespoons bicarbonate of
soda, and fill to the top
with warm water.
Many items found
in your cupboard are
friendly alternatives to harsh
chemicals. Bicarbonate of soda,
vinegar and lemon juice are
handy and cheap cleaning
products! Look online for
more tips....
7
stuff
Spending money spends CO2 as well. The average UK
consumer is responsible for approximately 3 tonnes of CO2
through their purchases of household goods, clothes, home
improvements, entertainment and other services. While
shopping responsibly and recycling properly are important,
the key to a low carbon lifestyle is to consume less. Look for
durability in your products to break away from the throwaway
culture, share things for free, or buy second hand and give
a product a new life.
Here are some tips on how to reduce, re-use and recycle all
your ‘stuff’.
8
reduce
It
is
estimated
that
only
1%
of
the
total
materials of stuff purchased in the US is still in
use 6 or more months after their date of sale!
Our ‘throw-away culture’ is creating mountains of waste
around the world. So, the first aim of solving our waste
problem is to reduce at source.
KeepCups
Buy a reusable University
branded KeepCup from any
University catering location.
Your your first hot drink is free,
and you will get discounted
drinks every time you use it in
the future! They’re available
from the Gateway, Library,
Physics, and Medical Sciences cafes. You have the choice of
a glass version too.
Watch the “Story
of Stuff” for a great
video on the amount of
‘stuff’ we use:
www.storyofstuff.org
9
reuse
Don’t forget, almost everything can be recycled or reused as it is
in some way, either by you or someone else.
Why not swap and share unwanted items online with other
students? Check out St AndRe-Use and the St Andrews flea market
to place your advert or see what’s on offer in St Andrews.
www.transitionsta.org/standreuse
www.yourfleamarket.net
The many charity shops in town gladly accept clothing and
household items, from furniture to books:
•
•
•
•
•
Bell Street: Barnardo’s, British Heart Foundation
Church Street: Salvation Army
South Street: Cancer Research UK, Oxfam
Logies Lane: Shelter, Sue Ryder
Greyfriars Garden: Sense Scotland, Save the Children
University staff can use the WARP-IT portal to re-use departmental
furniture and equipment www.warp-it.co.uk/standrews
10
recycle
Scotland’s zero waste plan is aiming for a 70% recycling
rate, with only 5% going to landfill by 2025. Fife Council
has one of the highest recycling rates in Scotland; currently
they recycle 56% of their waste, and have a target of zero
municipal waste to landfill by
2020.
The University of St Andrews is
one of the leading institutions
for waste recycling, currently
achieving a 74% recycling rate.
Check out www.st-andrews.
ac.uk/environment/recycling
for more information about
what we recycle and how.
Fife Council has a 4 bin
system for all residences
across St Andrews (with some
exceptions in the centre of
town), collecting food waste,
general waste, paper and
plastics.
Want to know when
your bins are to be
collected?
www.fifedirect.org.uk/
env_bins/
11
1
3
R&A
GOLF CLUB
ST
NORT
MARKET
SOUTH
TH
E SC
ORE
EET
H STR
STREET
LAMOND ROAD
S
ST M
ARY
SCHOOL
TOM MORRIS DRIVE
5
SCOONIEHI
LL ROAD
HOSPITAL
2
LEISURE
CENTRE
EAST
SANDS
Printer cartridges can
be refilled when empty,
a more environmentally
friendly and often cheaper
option. Alternatively many
charity shops will collect
your empties
3 Double Dykes
Road Car Park
Double Dykes Road
KY16 9DX
2 St Davids Centre
Albany Park
KY16 8BP
1 West Sands
Car Park
L.H.S car park
KY16 9JR
Plastic
Glass Paper Cans Textiles Bottles
4 Morrisons
Supermarket
45 Largo Road
KY16 8PJ
To find your nearest Recycling Point please
visit www.fifedirect.org.uk/wasteaware or
call the Recycling Helpline on 08451 55 00 22.
Recycling Centre - Argyll Business Park, Largo Road,
You can
Opening 11th December
even recycle
plastic bags at
Morrisons
5 Shopping
Centre
Tom Morris Drive
KY16 8EL
ST ANDREWS
Recycling Points are situated locally to
allow you to recycle the following materials:
St Andrews Recycling Points
4
NS
DE
AR
Batteries can
be
OLD
COURSE
HOTEL
recycled at several
locations including Aldi
and Spar. This ensures
they are safely disposed of
and don’t end up in landfill
where they can leak harmful
chemicals into the soil
NG
UR
UNIVERSITY
NORTH HAUGH
PB
HE
Mobile phones
can be taken to
Oxfam in South
Street
12
D
ROA
GO
LAR
STRE
ET
food
As consumers in the UK, we are fortunate enough to have
choice, and being able to make the right choices can help us
work towards a more sustainable and secure future for food
production. Think about your food choices; consider buying
organic, local, seasonal and Fairtrade.
13
organic and local
Organic: Conventional farming is an energy guzzler;
as 48% of the UK’s food emissions are from production, it
has been said that we are literally ‘eating fossil fuels’. Organic
farming methods use less synthetic inputs, such as fertilisers
for plants and hormones for animals, and more natural
growing processes - better for you and the environment.
Local & Seasonal: Modern food is well travelled: an often
used statistic is that a meal travels an average of 1,500
miles from farm to plate. Eating local food supports your
local farmers, decreases your separation from your food,
and reduces emissions from travel.
St Andrews and Fife have so much local
food to offer, so much so that an everincreasing number of people are signing
up to the Fife Diet, sourcing a significant
proportion of their food from the local
area. Visit www.fifediet.co.uk to sign up.
Organic and local food options are widely
available in St Andrews.
How to
drink (environmentally)
responsibly - try local beer!
There are two breweries here:
St Andrews Brewing Co and the
Eden Brewery.
Making local cask ale only creates
300g carbon emisions per pint,
compared with 900g for foreign
bottled beer.
14
good eating tips
1. JOIN THE VEG BOX SCHEME
6. FREE RANGE
2. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHOPS
7. COOK IN BULK
Collect your fresh, local, organic
fruit and veg every week from the
Students’ Association, brought to you
by OneWorld.
Email [email protected]
See list on p 17.
3. COOK FRESH FRUIT AND VEG
Prepare meals from scratch. Avoiding
over-packaged convenience food is
usually healthier and cheaper.
4. WRITE A SHOPPING LIST
Planning your meals, buying what you
need and using left-overs reduces
wastage and could save up to £50 per
month.
5. EAT LESS MEAT
Eating more veg can be good for you,
save you money, and has a lower
environmental footprint. Challenge
yourself: sign a pledge and join other
St Andrews students in eating less
meat.
www.parttimecarnivore.org/teams/st-andrews/
Free range hens fare the best of all
farmed chickens, so buy free range
eggs. Support a local business and
buy from the butcher, they are the
cheapest in town!
It’s hard to cook for one, so cook for
your flat, or freeze left over portions;
it’s better value for money.
8. BUY FROM ONEWORLD COOP
Bulk buy your staples like pasta and
cereals with a group of friends at
wholesale proces. Email oneworldsoc@
st-andrews.ac.uk to join in with others
and get cheap staples.
9. GROW YOUR OWN
You don’t need a garden to grow
your own food. Check out the Edible
Campus map on page 15, or grow
herbs on your windowsill.
10. URBAN FORAGING
Take a walk on the wild side and join a
Transition UStA foraging workshop for
advice on identifying and picking free,
wild food. Blackberries are ripe for the
picking when term starts.
Join the Veg Box
scheme
15
know your lABELS
Be responsible; know what you’re buying and why you are
buying it.
FAIRTRADE
Fairtrade is a growing international movement working
to address trade injustice to ensure that producers in
poor countries get a fair deal. From what was born as
a student-led campaign, Fairtrade has become part of
St Andrews’ wider sustainability commitments. Both
the Students’ Association and the University are active
supporters of the Fairtrade movement and the town of St
Andrews has been an official Fairtrade town since 2006.
DOLPHIN SAFE
Means that no dolphins were intentionally chased or
encircled with deadly tuna nets, nor were any dolphins
killed or seriously injured.
MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
Environmental standard for sustainable fishing
demonstrating that the product has not contributed to
overfishing.
RAINFOREST ALLIANCE
Certification scheme to conserve biodiversity and ensure
sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use and
business practices.
SOIL ASSOCIATION
Stringent organic certification scheme. Applies to
farmers, growers, caterers, textile producers, health &
beauty manufacturers and importers.
16
know your locals
Be clever; know where you can go in St Andrews to support
local business and find great food:
Farmers’ Market: Argyle Street Car Park, normally held on the first
Saturday of the month, 9am - 1pm. You will find fresh vegetables, local
wine, sweets and more!
Veg Shops: Birrell & Son, South St, has a wide selection of fruit and veg.
Or go a little further, past the Old Course Hotel, to the Balgove Larder.
They even have a cafe, and provide a fantastic spread of local produce
from tatties to jam and oats.
Butchers: Minick, South St. Local doesn’t have to be expensive, have a
look at the butchers for great deals and prepared feasts! The Balgove
also has a range of meats from rabbit to pheasant; why not try something
different?
Fishmongers: Keracher’s Ltd, South St, and the Tailend Restaurant,
Market St, both offer a wide range of fresh, local seafood.
Cheesemongers: I.J. Mellis and the Guid Cheese Shop, both on South St.
Free samples, and don’t forget their student discount: A perfect place to
shop for any wine and cheese event.
Fairtrade cafes: Serving Fairtrade teas, coffees, sugar, chocolates,
sweets, biscuits, juices and wines:
Adamsons, Aikmans Bar, Balgove Larder, Bibi’s, Café in the Park, Café
Janetta, Community Hospital Café, Con Panna, Doll’s House, East Sands
Café, Gateway Café, Glass House, Gorgeous, Grill House, Maisha, Medical
Sciences Café, Morrisons, North Point, Old Union Coffee Shop, Physics
Café, Pizza Express, Rascals, Rector’s Café, Roundabout Café, Starbucks,
Tailend, Taste, University Library Café, Vine Leaf, Zest, Zizzi.
Fairtrade shops: From clothing to cosmetics, groceries to giftware, the
shops of St Andrews have all the Fairtrade goods you could want:
Aldi, Dervish, Fred’s Emporium, Greggs ,Holland & Barrett, Luvians
Ice Cream Parlour, Morrisons, Oxfam, Rocca Deli, Sainsbury’s, Spar,
Starbucks, St Andrews Health Foods, Tesco, WH Smith, Your Shop
(Students’ Association).
17
grow your own
You can’t get more local or more seasonal than growing your
own: it is one of the most effective ways to reduce your
carbon footprint...and your shopping bill! Many people are
growing their own fruit and vegetables in whatever space
they have available: from window sills to balconies, pot
plants to allotments. It’s much easier than you think!
Edible Campus
The Edible Campus project aims to reinvigorate our skills,
knowledge and interest in eating more locally whilst increasing
the amount of food growing within the University grounds
for the benefit of students, staff and the wider community.
Whether you’re a master gardener or complete novice,
everyone is welcome to come along and join in our gardening
sessions, or just harvest and eat the produce. With over 10
growing spaces and 2 orchards in town, there’s bound to be
one close to you!
18
19
transport
The choices we make when travelling have a huge impact on
the planet, making up 25% of the average carbon footprint.
The international nature of our student body means students
are travelling all over the world, significantly increasing our
carbon footprint. While choosing sustainable travel options
is important, another key change you can make is to travel
less! Why not consider holidaying locally and explore the
beautiful Scottish countryside? Discover more ideas at:
www.transitionsta.org/smarter-travel
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/environment/
sustainabletravel/
20
walking
While everyone thinks walking to Morrisons is the end of the
world, St Andrews is the ideal size for travelling on foot. There are
wonderful beach walks along the West Sands and, for a great day
out, try the coastal path towards Crail. You can shorten the walk
by catching the Kingsbarns bus, or for the more daring, aim for
supper at the Anstruther Fish Bar. www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk
cycling
Take a bike - St Andrews has been cycle friendly since 2005 with
clearly marked cycle routes on almost all main roads in and around
St Andrews, with plenty of space to lock up your bicycle in town.
Find out more at:
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/environment/sustainabletravel/cycling/
Students can pick up a second-hand
bike at the start of semester sales,
and if you’re a full time member of
University staff, you are eligible for
the cycle to work scheme. Keep an
eye out for regular bike maintenance
sessions on campus, and learn how
to look after your bike.
Cycling is a great way to stay in shape and do your bit for the
environment. Try a trip to Tentsmuir forest for a fun day out in
the local area. www.tentsmuir.org/
21
train
Take the train, it is much better for the environment and is a more
pleasant way to travel. When travelling for business, University
policy allows staff to travel first class to discourage flying. Book
early to get cheap ticket prices. If you are thinking of heading to
the continent, InterRailing is the way to go: www.interrail.eu/
bus
Stagecoach provides a quick and reliable service in and around
Fife, making it the best way to get to Leuchars, the nearest train
station to St Andrews. It’s also the fastest way to cross the Tay for
a trip to Dundee, and the cheapest way to get to Edinburgh and
Glasgow. If you’re travelling daily, buy a Unirider ticket to save
money.
St Andrews - Dundee
Catch the 99/99A/99B buses, every 15 minutes
St Andrews - Leuchars
Catch the 99/F1/99A/96 buses, every 15 minutes
For an adventure in Fife, try
your luck on the Elie Chain
Walk! Take the X58 or X60 to
Elie High Street.
For dirt cheap city breaks,
try the MegaBus. Fares start
from £1 www.megabus.com
22
By using
public transport
from St Andrews to
Edinburgh instead of
jumping in your car, you
can save 18kg of carbon by
taking the train, and 20kg
by taking the bus.
car sharing
The University discourages both students and staff from bringing
cars to St Andrews. If you do need to use a car, think about sharing
the trip: check out GoCarShare, where you can log your journey
and find someone to share with. This low carbon option also gives
you a opportunity to make new friends. And when you head home
for the holidays, why not see if someone else is going the same
way? www.gocarshare.com/standrews
Car clubs are an increasingly
common way for drivers to
get all the benefits of a car
without the hassle and costs
of owning one. Planning is
currently underway to look at
the possibility of developing
a car club here. You can find
more about them and local
options at www.carplus.org.uk
air plane
One tonne of carbon is equivalent to a return flight from London to
Southern Spain. Dirt cheap flights are feeding our well-established
love affair with international travel, so here are some ideas to help
reduce your carbon footprint. Think about taking the Eurostar via
the Channel Tunnel to Paris and the continent, or a ferry to the
Netherlands, Ireland or Shetland. After all, it is not always about
the desination, it is about the journey, and you see more if you
stay below the clouds!
Delve into “The Man in Seat Sixty-One” website to search for
flight-free travel options www.seat61.com
23
how to get
involved
Outside of the lecture theatre, the University of St Andrews
boasts a highly active and enthusiastic student and staff
community dedicated to the protection of the environment
and maintenance of ethical standards. There are a multitude
of sustainability-savvy societies and groups in St Andrews,
which provide the perfect opportunity for you to do a little
more for our planet, and meet and learn from people who
share your interests.
24
societies
You can find most of these groups on facebook or send an email
to get involved and find out about upcoming events.
OneWorld Society. OneWorld campaigns on human rights, poverty,
and the environment as part People and Planet (the largest UK
student campaigning network). They also organise numerous
events and run the vegbox scheme. Email: [email protected]
Greenpeace. Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves
a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs action. If
you like a good project and a good cause, join Greenpeace.
Email: [email protected]
Vegan and Veg Soc. Do you love to eat and cook veggie and vegan
food? Then join this soiciety for veggie feasts, potlucks, parties,
trips and more. Everyone welcome - no politics - just FOOD.
Email: [email protected]
Wild Soc. Interested in wildlife and conservation? This society
holds events such as presentations, documentary screenings,
moth trapping, bat tracking, helping with conservation work in
the area and more. Email: [email protected]
St Andrews Sustainability Society. The society undertakes
academic, social and practical activities to implement sustainability
at all scales - from organising seminars to practical action. www.
fb.com/sustainablestandrews
Visit www.yourunion.net for all the latest information and contacts
for St Andrews societies and volunteering opportunities. Even if
you don’t wish to become a member, watch out for the many
University-wide events held by these groups throughout the year,
they may just inspire you...
25
groups
The Environment Team at Estates manages issues affecting
the University that relate to Sustainable Development,
including carbon emissions, biodiversity, waste reduction,
transportation and resource use. For up to date information
on practical sustainability action at the University, and ways
to get involved, find us via:
Facebook: www.fb.com/EnvironmentStA
Website: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/environment
Blog: www.environmentsta.wordpress.com
The Fairtrade Steering Group promotes the use of fairtrade
products across campus and works on fairtrade initiatives.
For more information, or to get involved, go to www.standrews.ac.uk/fairtrade or email fairtrade@st-andrews.
ac.uk
Carbon Conversations
is a unique and inspiring
series of six group
discussions, and is cited as
one of the top solutions to
climate change. The sessions
involve group activities,
knowledge-building, ideasharing and reflections,
where participants will
have the opportunity to
explore climate change both
practially and emotionally
www.transitionsta.org/carbonconversations
26
Transition University of St Andrews is part of a global
movement responding to the threats to climate
change and resource depletion. Transition works
on practical projects that help communities
become more self-sufficient, minimises
environmental impacts, and strengthens
community ties. To get involved, email
[email protected] or explore the
many projects on their website:
www.transtionsta.org
St AndRe-Use is your angel to the devil that tells you to
throw out all that STUFF at the end of they year. Instead,
swap, share and recycle through this easy to use, convenient,
St Andrews based scheme. www.transitionsta.org/standreuse
Edible Campus / Community Garden. Over 10 food growing
spaces open to all staff, students and the local community.
Find out more at www.fb.com/ediblecampusstandrews
St Andrews Sustainability Institute (SASI) focuses on
research, teaching, knowledge transfer, and making the
University a more sustainable place. Check out their website
to read some of their research or look for upcoming events:
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/sasi or email [email protected]
St Andrews Energy Network is a community-led energy
saving project, which aims to help you reduce CO2
emissions and cut household fuel bills through simple low
cost steps. If you live in private rented accomodation,
they can do a free home energy assessment and tell you
how you can make savings. Phone 01334 659315 or go to
www.standrewsenergy.org
27
A Green year in St Andrews
We can’t list everything, but here are just some of the regular
local, national and international ‘green’ activities to look out for...
September
Freshers’ week, including: Green Fair,
St AndRe-use Giveaway, and other events.
October
Interhall Energy Competition starts.
St Andrews Sustainability Fair.
Green Raisin receipts.
November World Vegan month.
December
End of semester St AndRe-Use collections.
January
Local holidaying...
February
Climate Week.
Fairtrade Fortnight.
March
St Andrews Green Week.
Earth Hour.
April
May
Earth Day.
June
World Environment Day.
National Bike Week.
End of year St AndRe-Use collections.
July/August Flight-free travel...
28