UK Universities Ahead of Colleges say AoC

A new study by the U.K. based Association of Colleges finds that universities are embracing green practices and buildings faster than any other segment of the public sector.

Waterless urinals, generators powered by livestock waste, walls insulated with denim jeans and cars powered by cooking fats are among the innovative green features identified by a new survey of colleges published by the Association of Colleges.

The release of the survey marks the launch of the Association of Colleges "Green Colleges" initiative, which aims to showcase college best practices and help them become as green as possible. In the U.K., Colleges teach 4 million students in buildings worth over £5.8 billion (U.S.$11.5B).

The results from the survey, which includes more than 150 colleges across the U.K., found widespread adoption of a range of green practices. A first step in reducing energy use, 70 percent colleges said they had already undertaken an energy survey, and a further 19 percent plan to do so in the near future.

Every college surveyed announced it had implemented some level of recycling practices, 58 percent said they have an environmental energy policy, and 77 percent encourage their staff and students to make their travel as green as possible. "Colleges are playing a critical role in developing environmental curricula to equip young people and adults with specialist skills and knowledge," said Dr. John Brennan, Chief Executive of the AoC. "Many others are already delivering on the environmental agenda by, for example, incorporating innovative sustainable features in new buildings, introducing recycling stations or implementing greener transport policies."

Brennan urged that more can always be done, and said one of the fundamental purposes of the survey was to highlight the best practices on U.K. colleges and show that sustainability is achievable in the near future.

Among the Colleges singled out for recognition in the report are: Walford and North Shropshire College's new £2.7million teaching facility, The Harris Centre, was been designed to incorporate a number of highly innovative energy-saving features, including an "anaerobic digester" which generates additional electricity by converting cow waste from the college farm into methane gas fuel.

The Genesis Centre at Somerset College includes insulation made from recycled newspaper, wood and cotton denim jeans; toilets that demonstrate the latest systems and devices for water conservation; and its foundations include recycled material from the demolition of a Dutch barn and the college's 1970's Metric building.

Duchy College runs four cars and a minibus in the college fleet on biofuels made from used vegetable oil collected from local businesses.

City College Plymouth’s Innovation Centre in Devonport lives up to its name - it has two six-kilowatt wind turbines on its roof and water-free urinals that feature special filters and sealant liquids.