Challenges – “Building In” and “Behaviour Change”
An article in the magazine Green Futures, January 2009, highlights the importance of a sustainable approach in colleges and universities to help young people treat sustainability as normal … including Travel Planning.
Quote from the article “From Oxford’s oldest colleges to state of the art architecture like Northumbria University’s new Law School there are many lessons to be learned from the way college and university buildings are designed, built, managed and monitored to improve their sustainability.”
Sustainability covers energy and water efficiency, waste minimisation, transport and travel planning, looking after the local environment and procurement. Sustainability is also about communication, working towards targets, monitoring progress and encouraging behaviour change.
Some areas of sustainability can be built into new buildings, or introduced into older buildings – insulation, rain water collection, automatic water taps, recycling bins, new bus routes, real time information, secure cycle racks, planting to encourage biodiversity around the site. Procuring products made of recycled materials from the local area, and securing services from local organisations which have ethical and sustainable values can all be arranged with persistence and careful management.
Communicating sustainability and getting students and staff to change their behaviour is an even greater challenge.
Core courses including aspects of sustainability is one way forward. Enabling students to apply what they have learned about sustainability to practical issues (such as implementing video conferencing, using public transport regularly, producing Fair Trade meals in the college restaurant) is another.
The article goes on to say “Incorporating sustainable principles pays off on so many fronts – saving money, inspiring the university / college community, attracting staff and students, and making an impression on green league tables.
Universities and colleges must lead by example if students are to take sustainability seriously. If facilities for cycling (and recycling) are widely used on campus and become part of the “normal” way of doing things, then graduates will more likely expect (and demand) them afterwards, in their jobs, homes and public buildings."
The full article can be read at GreenFutures
February 1, 2009
Watch a video tour of the Travel Plan Builder
The Workplace Travel Plan Company Ltd is a Strategic Partner of Work Wise UK North East.
Find a parking space to rent »
Powered by
“Both in compiling our Travel Plan and acting as our Travel Plan Co-ordinator, I have been impressed by their knowledge, and their pro-active and helpful approach.”
Richard Dowson
Operations and Events Manager, Durham County Cricket Club