Case Studies Sustainability in Research Sue Hartley: Director of YESI (York Environmental Sustainability Institute) Contact Number: 01904 328640 Email Address: [email protected]Sustainability Capital: Natural, Social, Financial, Human The importance of sustainability is embedded in the ground breaking research carried out at the University across all departments. The various research projects undertaken by the University of York has had a significant direct and long-term impact on all areas of sustainability; economics, social and environmental, and has shown the University to be a leading institute for sustainable research. In the Environment Department, research led by Dr Andy Marshall has directly led to the conservation of biodiversity, notably by focussing on forest animals, trees, carbon and restoration ecology in Tanzania. This has resulted in a long- term conservation project that protects threatened forests from destruction, has increased awareness of forest value and encouraged the adoption of sustainable behaviour by local communities. Biodiversity conservation is vital for ecosystem health and therefore is a sustainability target for the UN Millennium Development Goals and the Convention for Biological Diversity. Within the Social Policy and Social Work Department, Jonathan Bradshaw and colleagues have undertaken research that has heavily influenced UK and international measures of child poverty, child deprivation, and child well-being, promoting social sustainability on both a national and global scale. The multi-dimensional well-being measures have been adopted by UNICEF and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Transcript
Case StudiesSustainability in Research
Sue Hartley: Director of YESI (York Environmental Sustainability Institute)
Sustainability Capital: Natural, Social, Financial, Human
The importance of sustainability is embedded in the ground breaking research carried out at the University across all departments. The various research projects undertaken by the University of York has had a significant direct and long-term impact on all areas of sustainability; economics, social and environmental, and has shown the University to be a leading institute for sustainable research.
In the Environment Department, research led by Dr Andy Marshall has directly led to the conservation of biodiversity, notably by focussing on forest animals, trees, carbon and restoration ecology in Tanzania. This has resulted in a long-term conservation project that protects threatened forests from destruction, has increased awareness of forest value and encouraged the adoption of sustainable behaviour by local communities. Biodiversity conservation is vital for ecosystem health and therefore is a sustainability target for the UN Millennium Development Goals and the Convention for Biological Diversity.
Within the Social Policy and Social Work Department, Jonathan Bradshaw and colleagues have undertaken research that has heavily influenced UK and international measures of child poverty, child deprivation, and child well-being, promoting social sustainability on both a national and global scale. The multi-dimensional well-being measures have been adopted by UNICEF and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); moreover, the Office for National Statistics is now developing measures of child happiness based on this research.
Additionally, research carried out within the Centre of Health Economics has generated effective methods that are used to assess whether a health intervention is expected to be a cost-effective use of NHS resources, encouraging economic sustainability on a national scale.
The York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) sponsors the development of novel interdisciplinary research projects that tackle prominent environmental challenges on a national and global scale by carrying out multi-disciplinary research and working with businesses, NGOs, government departments, research funding bodies and other Universities.
Within YESI, FoRA (Food Resilience for All Research Group) consolidates the expertise of 14 researchers from 5 departments and 2 centres at the University of York. Its mission is to investigate how individuals, communities and institutions think and act in response to different types of complex change within the agri-food system. By carrying out this research, models and frameworks can be developed that will help stakeholders within the supply chain resolve and respond to pressures facing food consumption, production and trade. Not only does this improve environmental resilience, but it promotes global social well-being by supporting food sources and their sustainability.
Additionally, YESI leads research that is directly centred on promoting social sustainability, such as a project led by Professor Becky Tunstall: Design For Wellbeing: Ageing and Mobility in the Built Environment. The project, which includes York Departments Computer Science, Health Sciences and the Stockholm Environment Institute, as well as colleagues from Leeds, Newcastle and Northumbria Universities, aims to create a step-change in mobility and well-being in later life. The work will include a longitudinal study of older people in York, Hexham and Leeds, who have experienced transitions affecting mobility and well-being, and will lead into intensive co-design workshops with older people and local and national stakeholders.
The advanced level of research carried out on sustainability topics within departments, as well as think tanks such as SEI and YESI, benefits the University by generating additional income from increased market
demand for research in areas of sustainable development as the University proves expertise and capability in this area. It also creates innovation and learning amongst staff and students whilst enhancing the University’s influencing power on a national and global scale, by contributing to environmental and social breakthroughs and discoveries, along with associated publicity.
Sustainability is promoted on campus through a number of innovative methods, led by the University’s Grounds Maintenance Manager, Gordon Eastham. This includes not only obvious environmental benefits but also social benefits of staff and students wellbeing. A notable example of sustainable best practice is the University’s DEFRA’s Green Flag ‘Bees Needs’ Award in 2015. This award recognises excellent best practice in land management that supports pollinators by creating suitable habitats.
One of the major habitats created across campus has been species-rich meadows, a primary benefit of which is to provide foraging for bees. Since October 2012, the proportion of wild flower areas across campus has increased significantly: through an association with the Land Life organisation, 13 hectares of land has been deep ploughed and sown with wild flowers as a food source for bees. This compliments the existing 9.5 hectares of meadowland, which means that over 10% of the entire University, which is nearly 200 hectares, is currently given over the wild flowers.
In addition to this, measures have been put into place on Heslington West campus to markedly improve bee friendliness through the creation of two dedicated bee friendly plantations. Areas of seasonal bedding are being substituted for sowings of wild flowers, which will both provide the colour impact traditionally associated with bedding displays, whilst simultaneously providing a food source for bees. Grass-cutting frequencies have also been reduced in some locations on campus, for example around the margins of the sports field. The general aim of this is to provide a food source and habitat for birds and invertebrates, but in conjunction with this, the number of wild flowers has increased, which benefits foraging bees. Additionally, a dedicated wildflower meadow has been sown in a central area of campus, where a cluster of staff housing has been demolished.
In 2014, the University held a ‘River of Flowers’ event on campus, which gave students an opportunity to plant hundreds of wild flower bulbs and sow wild flower seed bombs. Rivers of Flowers is an eco-social enterprise that donates wild flowers to community groups, the ethos of which is to provide a food source for bees. One of River of Flower’s sponsors is ‘Grow Wild’, a project supported by Kew Gardens that has been set up to encourage communities to grow more wild flowers. A representative from Grow Wild came along to support the event, as well as one from the invertebrate charity ‘Buglife’ to give a talk on pollinators and how to encourage them. The event was a good opportunity for students to get involved in practical conservation work and at the same time increase the food available for bees, hoverflies and other pollinators.
Further plans at the University of York to encourage bees include carrying out mass bulb planting using specially chosen biodiversity mixes. Bulbs are often the first flowers to appear in spring and are therefore very important for bees. The bulb mixtures contain a variety of species, which in turn produce a successful flowering period between February and June. Additionally, peripheral areas of campus will be managed to eventually make species rich hay meadow by reducing soil fertility, there are plans for the wider introduction of wild flowers through seeding or plug planting, and for the use of plants such as Yellow Rattle to weaken course grass growth. The rare Tansy Beetle is an endangered species which is encouraged on campus as it is a native species with a very limited habitat range along the River Ouse. An advantageous habitat is being created for the future introduction of the beetle by establishing waterside blocks of Wild Tansy, as well as planting St John’s Wort and Water Mint, which provide an additional food source for the beetles.
Not only do these measures provide benefits to the University ecosystem, and the wider economic benefits to the agricultural industry from encouraging pollinators, but the well-being of students and staff is also enhanced through the creation of green spaces on campus, delivering lasting mental health benefits as well as increased working productivity. The University of York is unique in its high percentage of green spaces on campus, and an emphasis on preserving these spaces and the biodiversity within them will provide York with a competitive advantage over other Universities due to its appeal for prospective students and staff.
As a large employer of over 3,500 staff members and bringing 16,000 students to the city, creating and maintaining links and relationships between the University and the local community is inherent to the University ethos. The University of York takes a proactive approach to
enhancing the local community, by using its expertise and resources to enhance the social benefits for York.
The University works in partnership with York Cares, which is an independent, employee-volunteering charity that brings businesses, employees and communities together by matching their skills and expertise to community projects where they can have the most impact. The projects deliver tangible benefits for local people, as well as boosting the employability of students who take part in volunteering alongside community volunteers.
Staff and students at the University lead modules offered by York Children’s University, a successful programme which seeks to inspire children between the ages of 7-14 through finding innovative ways to link real life and learning. Student-led modules are offered in partnership with local employers and are centred around a key business theme, such as ‘Transport Yourself’ which teaches children about the history of the railways and rail safety, and ‘Cooking Culture’, which offers classroom based activities around food from different cultures.
The Physics Department and their ‘Astrocampus’ has run very successful workshops through York Children’s University CU in the City programme encouraging science communication, including ‘In Space No-One Can Hear You Scream’. Having been delivered to 17 schools and to over 300 people at a time around York, the workshop consists of informative lectures, live demonstrations and interactive practical sessions. This year, the workshop ran as part of the ‘Big Telescopes’ event at the University of York, an exhibition that featured the ‘Seeing the Universe in All of Its Lights’ roadshow.
Actively contributing to the education and wellbeing of primary school children in York positively boosts the University’s image and enhances social sustainability.
The inclusion of sustainability in the University's educational programmes is fostered in the development of new programmes and as existing programmes are brought within the framework of the York pedagogy. Sustainability appears alongside other prompts for generic skills and understanding that contribute towards employability in the guidance materials for design of programme learning outcomes. Programme teams therefore consider sustainability as a theme that might be developed within the programme in a way suitable to the particular academic discipline.
Academics and teachers across the University regularly meet in various forums to exchange good practice, discuss and debate. Sustainability features periodically as a Learning and Teaching forum theme, and this influences teaching at the module level.
The University is actively pursuing paperless assessment, use of eTexts, and other initiatives that reduce the environmental impact of learning and teaching.
Example programmes that feature sustainability content are the BSc in Environmental Science and the BA in Education, where students undertake a form of volunteering within their first year, working with York Cares and the local authority. Sustainability related modules are found in programmes across York's departments, with titles including The Sociology of Health and Illness (Sociology), the Economics of Growth and Development (Economics) and Climate Change and Biodiversity (Environment and Biology).
As a large procurer, the University of York can achieve significant sustainability benefits for the University and also for external stakeholders, through integrating sustainability throughout all of its procurement processes. The University of York strives towards meeting sustainable and ethical food standards across all catering outlets and campus retail outlets. The University has achieved ‘Fairtrade’ standard, facilitated by purchasing food products from ‘Suma’, the UK’s largest supplier of Fairtrade goods. In terms of beverages, all coffee and tea sold on campus by commercial services are Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certified, as well as a proportion of bottled water supporting ethical projects such as One Water whenever possible. To minimise food miles and to economically support local farms, many raw food products are purchased from the Yorkshire or Humberside region. All fresh eggs are lion-branded free range, and fish are purchased from suppliers who
comply with the FAO code of conduct for responsible fisheries. Additionally, endangered species such as Bluefin tuna are not purchased.
The University of York is enhancing sustainability throughout its supply chain by accounting for the sustainability of its suppliers and services during the University’s formal procurement processes.
Tenders for high cost purchases (over £100,000) now require a Procurement Strategy to be produced and signed off by the Head of Procurement as well as the client. The Procurement Strategy promotes the completion of a risk log that includes key sustainability risks (such as environmental, social, financial).
The Procurement Office includes specific clauses and tender questions where appropriate to ensure sustainability benefits are delivered through high value contracts. Key contracts also strive to promote social value through identifying how the supplier will improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the City of York and wider afield. For example, for purchases involving furniture, there are sustainability questions constituting 15% of the total tender marks. These include a requirement that all timber will be certified as sustainable be being sourced from Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) timber. It is also a requirement that the University strives to promote the use of local labour through its key suppliers; and the supplier must provide details of the percentage of recycled material used to manufacture the products and recyclability of the product at the end of life.
The University are measuring the sustainability of their procurement processes through utilising the Sustainable Procurement Flexible Framework, and are moving up the levels. The University successfully achieved level 2 in 2014, recognising that sustainability is now embedded in the procurement process. Detailed expenditure analysis is undertaken and key sustainability risks are assessed and used for prioritisation through formal procurement processes. Sustainability is now considered at an early stage in the procurement process of most large scale contracts, and a whole-life-cost analysis is adopted.
The University is striving towards reaching level 3 of the ‘Flexible Framework’ in 2016, which will result in sustainability being actively practiced within the procurement process. All contracts will be assessed for general sustainability risks, with actions to reduce this risk identified and managed through set actions in all stages of procurement, and works undertaken to improve sustainability with key suppliers. This transition
will provide internal benefits such as direct, short and long term cost reductions, resulting from considering whole life cycle analysis and engaging with suppliers more effectively, and also from risk identification and reduction. The University will also benefit by actively promoting environmental and social benefits and displaying a positive ethical image, placing it at a marketing advantage with a strong consideration of social responsibility.
Students at the University of York are keen to develop their sustainability awareness and enhance sustainable development, as communicated by representatives such as YUSU’s Environment and Ethics Officers and
College Environmental Officers. An example of this is that the York University Student’s Union (YUSU) leads an annual environmental initiative called ‘The Big Green Clean’, which involves residential students donating unwanted cutlery, kitchen utensils and crockery at the end of the summer term. The items collected were disposed of in a sustainable way. Unwanted kitchenware is sold at a cheaper discount to students at the beginning of the academic year and the revenue is directed back to YUSU, enhancing economic sustainability as well as encouraging green behaviour amongst students. Non-perishable tinned food items were donated to Arc Light Homeless Shelter in York, and over 40 crates full of unwanted cutlery (112.3 kg) was recycled as scrap metal. Additionally, bags were provided for each student to donate unwanted clothes, shoes and blankets to the British Heart Foundation this year. These student-led schemes increase sustainability awareness among students, provide students with project management experience, benefits the local community and charities, but also benefits the University by engaging with the student community and helping to manage the waste streams at the end of the term.
The University’s Estates department manages the upkeep of all non-residential and a significant part of the residential estate along with the infrastructure across the campus. They provide the required facilities for the academic and commercial works, ensuring that they are constructed and operated to align with the demands of stakeholders in the most efficient ways possible.
Construction: The Environment Building
This academic year, the Environment Department will be relocating to new purpose-built teaching, office and laboratory facilities exhibiting features to enhance its sustainability. Renewable energy is generated through installation of photovoltaic cells providing 15 kWp of energy. Measures have been implemented that ensure a reduction in energy usage and costs, including the adaptation of the building orientation to maximise natural daylight, minimising need for artificial lighting, as well as the use of a natural ventilation system to minimise the use of air conditioning.
Additionally, a ‘green wall’ on one side of the building reduces cooling requirements (due to increased thermal insulation properties), provides a natural air purification system which filters harmful pollutants from the air, and offers an aesthetically pleasing element to the building. The building has also achieved ‘Very Good’ in the BREEAM standard, which is the world’s leading design and construction assessment method for sustainable buildings. The University is striving towards reaching ‘Excellent’ in the future construction.
Energy and Carbon Management
The University of York has invested in two CHP (combined heat and power) plants, significantly contributing towards the University’s self-generated campus electricity, which has now reached 58% of total electricity used on site. A CHP plant integrates the production of useable heat and power into one single, highly efficient on-site process; this is in contrast with the conventional method of generating electricity off-site
where vast amounts of energy is lost in transportation hence the carbon emissions are reduced. CHP plants can reach efficiency ratings in excess of 80%, compared to the efficiency of gas power stations which range between 49-52% efficiency in the UK. Therefore, the University effectively maximises energy efficiency to reduce energy wastage and costs, as well as saving nearly 4,500 tonnes of carbon in the 2014/15 academic year.
Images of CHP plant (left) and Biomass Boiler (right)
Additionally, a biomass boiler is in place on Heslington East, which offers an environmentally beneficial heating solution. Through burning biomass (in the form of wood pellets), the same amount of carbon dioxide is emitted as is absorbed while the plants were growing. Therefore, the burning of biomass is classed as a carbon-neutral renewable energy, and has saved over 600 tonnes of carbon in the 2014/15 academic year on campus. The biomass burned is grown locally in Market Weigton and processed in pellets in Ripon, which ensures the benefits of using biomass are not counteracted by the carbon miles expended in its sourcing. By implementing these energy efficiency measures, the University has emitted 2,127 fewer tonnes of carbon between the years 2012 and 2014.
Waste Management
The University has just entered new waste management contracts for general, recycling, food and chemical waste, which are designed with sustainability as a central consideration. Large strides have been made to improve the sustainability of the waste management on campus. Last academic year 93% of total waste was diverted away from landfill, as compared to 36% in 2010.
This dramatic increase is largely due to the introduction of mixed recycling across campus as opposed to segregated recycling, an increase in facilities for recycling such as internal bins, the introduction of separate food recycling, and improved segregation of recycling in central skips onsite.
Numerous awareness campaigns aimed at promoting recycling initiatives to staff and students have been undertaken including information posters and magnets being provided for all student kitchens. Not only does this improve environmental sustainability it also benefits the University by saving money through lower waste removal costs in the long term and teaching students best sustainable practice for their future lives.
Moreover, tighter contract management and the implementation of detailed waste monitoring has resulted in better analysis and identification of areas for continued future improvements.
Transport and Travel
A new five year travel plan strategy has been prepared from 2015-2020, which includes a number of measures promoting sustainable travel across the University.
The University financially supports a bus service between the Heslington campus, York city centre and the railway station. The service provides free inter-campus travel, as well as cheaper fares into town. This has increased bus usage by 62% since 2011/2012, significantly reducing the number of car journeys, and consequently reducing carbon emissions. A new contract with First Bus for a new ‘Your bus 66’ service runs low emission Euro 4 and Euro 5 hybrid buses equipped with Wi-Fi and operating Cycle Alert technology on all of its services.
The University has successfully increased cycling rates to campus by 9.9% since 2012 through a number of initiatives including a Cycle to Work scheme for staff, as well as a regular Bike Doctor maintenance service, a cash back scheme for cycling training, and the operation of a pool bike scheme for staff and students who wish to hire a bike. New infrastructure has been implemented to make it easier to cycle, with new cycle routes provided on campus a new cycle-route along linking Heslington East and West campuses to avoid travelling by car. The University provides 5,300 cycle parking spaces for students and are continuing to increase covered safe storage capacity.
A combination of these initiatives, as well as promoting the UniLiftShare car share scheme, has reduced the total number of car trips to the
University by 1.2% in the past year alone, against staff and student numbers increasing by 4.4% over the same time period.
Green Impact and Student Switch Off
As part of its Carbon Management Plan the University runs ‘Green Impact’, which is an NUS-led environmental accreditation programme. It aims to work with staff members to recognise and reward their green habits around the workplace through a series of actions in an online workbook. In 2014/15, twenty-two teams across campus took part in the Green Impact Project, and 6 achieved gold awards and there are now two teams now striving for Excellence projects. This provides evidence of an excellent level of staff involvement and contribution towards sustainable issues within the University. It is estimated that around a third of staff now work in an area with a Green Impact team. The programme also trains our own students to act as Project Assistants and environmental auditors to help in running the assessments, giving them valuable IEMA-approved training and work experience for their CVs.
The University has actively engaged with students to provide them with education and skills relating to sustainability to improve their environmental performance while on campus and also to benefit them in their future lives after University. Student Switch Off is an inter-college energy saving and recycling competition for students living on campus, to enhance environmental awareness. In 2014/15, 141,266 kWh of electricity was saved as a result of the competition, which is a 10% reduction across all colleges from the baseline year, saving 76 tonnes of carbon emissions. This is a financial saving of £15,111, a clear positive incentive for the University to continue to strive towards sustainability.
