Wolfson College Environmental Policy

DPC.2016.21

The aim of Wolfson College is to eliminate or reduce all forms of environmental pollution and encourage all members, contractors and others to do the same.

The College will:

  • Raise awareness of environmental issues among its members and encourage initiatives leading towards an advanced environmental strategy. Promote the 3 Rs for waste in the following order: reduce, reuse and recycling and provide convenient waste collection points and guidance for the disposal of
    • Paper
    • Cardboard
    • Glass
    • Aluminium
    • Plastics
    • Municipal waste
    • Green waste
    • Electrical equipment and white goods
    • Hazardous waste
  • Adopt health, safety and environment based codes of practice and relevant guidance and comply with legislation relating to the use of chemical products including
    • Detergents and other domestic products
    • Fats and oils
    • Pesticides
    • Petroleum spirit, fuel oils and paints
  • Minimize the consumption of water; this will be achieved by
    • Reducing the capacity of water cisterns
    • Encourage the reporting of leaks and dealing with them promptly
    • Progressively replacing / supplementing baths with shower facilities
    • Exploring options for using waste / roof water where possible
  • Minimize the consumption of gas where opportunities arise by
    • Maintenance of heating plant and pipe-work
    • Replacing inefficient systems where refurbishment opportunities occur
    • Improvements in insulation
  • Minimise the consumption of electricity where opportunities arise by
    • Progressive replacement of light bulbs with high efficiency ones
    • Installing timed and movement sensitive lighting systems
    • Improving heating and insulation so that fan heaters and air conditioners are not required
    • Encouraging staff and residents to turn off electrical goods when not in use
    • Ensuring that all white goods are efficient 'A-rated' products
    • Investigating and considering the purchase of electricity tariffs with lower carbon intensity, including renewables and excluding nuclear power.
  • Encourage the use of bicycles and public transport; look to reduce car based transport, maintain its minibus service, and seek to minimise traffic by housing more students on its campus.
  • Ensure that contractors and suppliers provide and use environmentally friendly materials and services.
  • Take account of embodied energy when considering the use of raw materials and other products.
  • Take professional advice and seek to reduce environmental impact when planning new developments such that the standards required by legislation are achieved and ideally surpassed, including consideration of issues relating to
    • Biodiversity
    • Carbon output
    • Noise
    • Light pollution
    • Energy conservation
    • Visual impact
    • Water use
  • Take an active role in the work of the University and other organisations in developing environmentally friendly practice.
  • Annually review its environmental policy through the Domestic and Premises Committee and committee structure, monitoring its impact and review and report on progress towards goals.

    Rev. 5 19 April 2016