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the university of st andrews brings you...
a
little
green
guide
welcomeThis 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...............4STUFF: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...8FOOD.....................................13TRANSPORT.............................20HOW TO GET INVOLVED............24A 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.
forewordSince 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.
Sally Mapstone Principal and Vice-Chancellor
home
4
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.
energy
5
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.
www.fb.com/interhall
Living in a flat?Contact St Andrews
Environmental Network for free home energy advice
www.standrewsenergy.org
appliances
6
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 offThe 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.
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....
water
7
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 throw-aways, 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 CleaningKeeping your home clean and the environment too....
stuff
8
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’.
Watch the “Story of Stuff” for a great
video on the amount of ‘stuff’ we use:
www.storyofstuff.org
reduce
9
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.
KeepCupsBuy 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.
reuse
10
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/standreusewww.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
recycle
Want to know when your bins are to be
collected?
www.fifedirect.org.uk/env_bins/
11
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.
12
Batteries can be 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 harm
ful chem
icals into the soil
You can even recycle
plastic bags at M
orrisons
Printer cartridges can be refilled w
hen empty,
a more environm
entally friendly and often cheaper option. A
lternatively many
charity shops will collect
your empties
Mobile phones
can be taken to O
xfam in South
Street
food
13
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.
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.
organic and local
14
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 ever-increasing 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.
good eating tips
15
1. JOIN THE VEG BOX SCHEMECollect your fresh, local, organic fruit and veg every week from the Students’ Association, brought to you by OneWorld. Email [email protected]
2. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHOPSSee list on p 17.
3. COOK FRESH FRUIT AND VEGPrepare meals from scratch. Avoiding over-packaged convenience food is usually healthier and cheaper.
4. WRITE A SHOPPING LISTPlanning your meals, buying what you need and using left-overs reduces wastage and could save up to £50 per month.
5. EAT LESS MEATEating 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/
6. FREE RANGEFree 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!
7. COOK IN BULKIt’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 COOPBulk buy your staples like pasta and cereals with a group of friends at wholesale proces. Email [email protected] to join in with others and get cheap staples.
9. GROW YOUR OWNYou 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 FORAGINGTake 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
know your lABELS
16
Be responsible; know what you’re buying and why you are buying it.
DOLPHIN SAFEMeans that no dolphins were intentionally chased or encircled with deadly tuna nets, nor were any dolphins killed or seriously injured.
MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCILEnvironmental standard for sustainable fishing demonstrating that the product has not contributed to overfishing.
RAINFOREST ALLIANCECertification scheme to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use and business practices.
SOIL ASSOCIATIONStringent organic certification scheme. Applies to farmers, growers, caterers, textile producers, health & beauty manufacturers and importers.
FAIRTRADEFairtrade 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.
know your locals
17
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).
grow your own
18
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!
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.
19
transport
20
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-travelwww.st-andrews.ac.uk/environment/sustainabletravel/
https://fourpointmapping.sustrans.org.uk/standrewscyclemap/standrews_testurl08032016.html
walking
cycling
21
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
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/
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.
bus
train
22
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 - DundeeCatch the 99/99A/99B buses, every 15 minutes
St Andrews - LeucharsCatch 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
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/
air plane
car sharing
23
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
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
how to get involved
24
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.
societies
25
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...
groups
26
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/EnvironmentStAWebsite: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/environment Blog: www.environmentsta.wordpress.comTwitter: @EnvironmentStAInstagram: environmentteamstandrews
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.st-andrews.ac.uk/fairtrade or email [email protected]
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, idea-sharing and reflections, where participants will
have the opportunity to explore climate change both
practially and emotionally
www.transitionsta.org/carbonconversations
27
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
28
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 Earth Day. May End of year St AndRe-Use collections.
June World Environment Day. National Bike Week.
July/August Flight-free travel...
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...
