Release Date 28 June 2012

The University of Reading's commitment to improving its green credentials has been recognised by recently gaining the Gold EcoCampus award.

EcoCampus is a scheme designed to help higher education institutions improve their environmental performance.

Reading's commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by 35% by 2015/16 via its new carbon management plan was instrumental in the University attaining the award.

Other key factors in Reading's recent ‘green' success include its successful behavioural change policy for staff and students and commitment to making its campuses as eco-friendly as possible.

Denise Shearman, Head of Campus Services at the University of Reading, said: "We are delighted that our efforts have been recognised by EcoCampus. The University reduced its own carbon emissions by 10% in 2010/11, equivalent to almost 4000 tonnes of CO2, and over 65% of our staff and students now walk to the University or come by bicycle or public transport."

Other impressive eco-friendly statistics include:

• The University has installed over 200 solar panels on building roofs which will cut our annual carbon footprint by 22,000 kilograms of CO2 per year
• In our most recent halls of residence development project, we recycled 98% of the masonry from the original 1960s halls in the foundations of the new (Mackinder and Stenton) Halls
• The Whiteknights Campus won a Green Flag award for one of the best open spaces in the country

"Behavioural change is a large part of our ethos to continue to become more eco-friendly," continued Denise Shearman. "Initiatives such as our annual Green Week which aims to make staff and students even more environmentally friendly, regular campus litter-picks and active involvement in schemes such as Earth Hour, are instrumental in the University becoming ever greener. We now have over 250 ‘Environmental Champions' helping to change our working environment for the better."

ENDS

For all media enquiries please contact University of Reading press office on 0118 378 7115/ 7388

Notes for editors:

EcoCampus is the leading national Environmental Management System (EMS) and award scheme for the higher and further education sectors. The scheme enables universities to systematically identify, evaluate, manage and improve their environmental performance and practices.

The scheme was launched by HEFCE in 2005 and has since attracted approximately 30% of the sector. It provides the means to perform well in external reporting and benchmarking indices, such as 'Universities That Count' and the People and Planet Green League.