Page 16 - Eclipse - RVC Alumni Magazine - Autumn 2020

GENERAL NEWS
Working towards a more sustainable future at the RVC
In 2019, we published our first Environmental Strategy with targets aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since then,
we’ve been working hard to reduce our environmental impact. We now purchase 100% renewable electricity and have undertaken a number of projects to reduce our carbon emissions, including replacing boilers, installing timers on equipment and installing monitoring so we can see where energy is being wasted.
Staff and students are essential in our quest to reduce our carbon footprint.
We arranged a Big Switch Off Campaign at Camden and Hawkshead, to turn off any equipment overnight that could be, which at Camden saw a 13% reduction in the annual average energy use. We are encouraging staff, students and visitors to use greener options when visiting us, through the installation of electric car charging points and bike repair stations. The bike repair stations were funded through the Alumni Fund. You can
read more about how your support, by donating to the Alumni Fund is helping on page 68.
The RVC continues to operate a zero waste to landfill approach and has introduced schemes to recycle crisp packets, toothbrushes/paste, pens and dog food containers. We are currently trialling a scheme of collecting items left behind when students move out of their accommodation, to find new uses for them.
We’ve also supported the Woodland Trust’s Big Climate Fightback Campaign and invited local primary schools, with the help of RVC student volunteers, to plant 50 trees on the main lawn at Hawkshead and over 100 bulbs in the Memorial Garden. More can be read about this in the Community section on page 72.
You can view our Environmental Strategy at rvc.uk.com/environmental-strategy
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