Page 8 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022

Environmental

sustainability update

he Environmental Sustainability WASTE
team works hard across the Over four tonnes of furniture from office
RVC to implement positive moves have been reused or donated to
Tchanges. Projects range from local schools and charities. If you are
the construction work at Hawkshead, affiliated with an organisation who could
planting wild flowers on campus, working make use of furniture and stationery,
with students in halls and with external please email alumni@rvc.ac.uk.
bodies (such as the Wildlife Trust).
We are holding a halls of residence
ENERGY clear-out, with a food bank collection
The RVC has committed to be net for both the Trussell Trust and RVC
zero by 2040 and we are developing students, and other items taken to the
plans to bring this forward. We recently RVC’s Freecycle Room for staff and
completed a study to decarbonise our students to use. You can read more
heating by using air source heat pumps about our Freecycle Room on page 73.
and photovoltaic panels. We are taking part in the Ellen
The RVC purchases 100% renewable MacArthur Circular Economy study
electricity. We also have our own to explore ways to reduce food waste
renewable energy, with a ground source and maximise locally sourced food the cement. Natural ventilation has
heat pump, solar thermal panels on opportunities. Our chefs are looking been used wherever possible. The
the Sports and Wellbeing Centre and at ways to reuse food, including using building has been designed with a
student accommodation, and air source left over vegetables for soups and fruit high thermal mass to reduce the need
heat pumps at Hawkshead. peelings to make flavoured water. for electricity for cooling. Free cooling

BIODIVERSITY CONSTRUCTION is used overnight, using the exposed
thermal mass. All floor coverings were
We are updating our Biodiversity As part of the creation of the new manufactured using 100% renewable
Action Plan in conjunction with the Teaching and Research Centre energy. The carpet tiles contain at least
Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife extension, several sustainability ideas 60% recycled content.
Trust to ensure everything we do has a were implemented. Renewable energy
positive impact on biodiversity. This year in the form of air source heat pumps TRAVEL
we planted six hectares of wild flowers, have been used. Heat pumps use A scheme has been approved to
achieved bronze in the Hedgehog- warm air from outside to heat the introduce an electric vehicle salary
Friendly Campus accreditation and took space and even work when it’s cold. sacrifice scheme for staff and we plan
part in Let it Bloom June. They are very efficient – for every kWh to increase the number of charge
of electricity used they produce three
The Student Halls Ambassador role to four kWh of heat. The building has points. We are working closely with
includes sustainability champion tasks energy monitoring, so we can see Hertfordshire Country Council to
in preparation for our halls of residence usage and reduce consumption. provide and upgrade cycleways linking
competition, which is to see who can Hawkshead with Potters Bar station.
recycle the most, save the most energy A life cycle assessment of the Find out more about the ongoing
and use the least water. embodied carbon was undertaken work of the RVC’s Environmental
prior to construction to provide advice Sustainability team at
on reducing the building’s carbon www.rvc.ac.uk/about/the-rvc/
impact. Recommendations were made environmental-sustainability
for less carbon intensive materials,
including using recycled material in

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