Ten tips for a sustainable work life

We all try to do our bit for the environment, but there's always more that all of us can do. One of our PhD students has put together 10 top tips which will help you reduce your energy use at work:

• Keeping doors and windows closed when the heating is on will avoid wasting energy. Try not to block radiators with furniture and avoid heating unused spaces like storerooms.
• Reduce the use of personal heaters and air conditioning.
• Report any draughty windows and doors as soon as possible, as this will help you be more comfortable, and reduce energy waste.
• Use daylight rather than artificial light where possible (it's healthier) and switch off any lights that aren't being used.
• To save energy, turn off your computer, monitor and other electrical items when you leave your office, and unplug them when you're away for more than a day.
• If you only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need it will save energy, and boil quicker too.
• Set power management features on your computer (Power Options in Control Panel) so it saves energy when you're not using it.
• Think before printing. Do you really need a paper copy? Print double sided where possible, and if you do, re-use your scrap paper when making notes.
• Make sure you recycle. DMU has an excellent recycling scheme, where everything from paper and glass to plastic and batteries can be recycled.
• If you drive, see whether you can lift-share. When setting up long distance meetings see whether they can be done via video conferencing rather than travelling.

Why not try volunteering for one of the green projects in our Square Mile initiative?

Find out more about what you can do to save energy on Campus with our top ten green tips.

We need your help to make Go Green Week a huge success

In the space of a week – starting on Monday 19 September – we will attempt to reduce DMUs electricity use by 25 per cent.

The challenge has been set by the university while we play host to 14 students from Tohoku University in Japan, who were deeply affected by the massive earthquake which struck their region in March this year. The students have been invited to spend a week in Leicester to enjoy a holiday while they continue to rebuild their lives.

Go Green week will run at the same time as the visit in a show of solidarity to the people of Japan, who have had to reduce electricity use by a quarter since the earthquake hit major power plants including Fukushima nuclear power station.

During the week, the university will host themed events to get everyone on campus thinking about how they can save electricity and reduce carbon emissions, not just now but in the future. It starts with a launch of Go Green Week, with Vice-Chancellor Dominic Shellard and the Japanese students, at 9am in Magazine Square when a meter counting electricity savings will be unveiled.

The beauty of the challenge is that it couldn’t be easier to take part!

All we are asking staff and students to do is turn off computers, air conditioning, photocopiers, printers and any other electrical equipment when they are away at meetings, on lunch breaks and before they go home at night. At the same time the environment and sustainability staff will be working for doing their best to monitor electricity consumption and put in action saving measures where necessary.

We would also ask that as many staff and students on campus also join in and take part in the week of events to show their support for what will be a first for a university in the UK.

To add a bit of competition to Go Green Week

we are feeding back results on how much electricity is being saved on a building basis so we can see exactly how much you and your colleagues are doing to reduce electricity consumption. At the end of the week the occupants of the building which has saved the most electricity will be entered into a prize draw, with one individual winning an eco-themed hamper of treats.

The graph shows the electricity consumption in QUEEN'S BUILDING for one week in September 2010, with a 25 % reduction target for 2011 shown in green. Everyone can help reach this target!

Karl Letten, environmental and sustainability officer at the university, who is leading the Go Green Week campaign, said:

“DMU already takes environmental issues very seriously but we wanted to go further while the Japanese visitors are here. It is hoped this concerted campaign to get people to simply turn off equipment when it’s not in use will continue long after Go Green Week and lead to big savings in electricity use and help drastically reduce our carbon emissions. The message we want to get across is that a few simple things can make a huge difference to the environment. We hope that not only will the campus learn something from this exercise but other schools, businesses and homes across Leicester will go on to do something similar. We are, after all, Britain’s first Environment City and we should see this as an opportunity for De Montfort University to take the lead and hope many others follow. If our target is achieved it is only the beginning. There is plenty to do to ensure the work continues. You have to bear in mind that the majority of students will not return until October and then the dark nights draw in, meaning greater demand for light and heat. It is not going to be easy but it is an issue we think is hugely important and we are up for the challenge.”

Each day of the week will have a theme

with relevant events to keep the green message at the forefront of staff and students’ minds:

• Monday sees the launch of the campaign at 9am in Magazine Square. In the Campus Centre on the first day staff and students will be able to try out the Carbon Gym, a range of activities including an Energy Bike and a Carbon Rower, to raise awareness of carbon emissions at DMU. Attendees will also be able to calculate their own carbon footprint using a carbon calculator.
• Tuesday has a transport theme. People on campus will be able to trial electric bikes, there will be a Dr Bike stall offering a health check for your bicycle, and a “Green Stig” will challenge people to race him on a cycle powered Scalextric track.
• Wednesday has a sustainable food theme. There will be an organic vegetable stall and people from the Just Fairtrade shop will also be on campus offering Fairtrade fashions and gifts.
• Thursday is Volunteering Day, when staff and students will be asked to help with DMU’s Square Mile project, in which the university is using its skills to help the community based around Newfoundpool for the next 12 months.
• Friday is a health and well-being day. There will be a green treasure trail around the campus which is available all week from the Go Green webpage, as well as a guided wal around the campus and a big community picnic on the lawn on Friday at the university’s Trinity House when staff and students bring food to share.

Look out for more details by going to the Go Green Week pages of our website.