ROBINSON COLLEGE February 2020
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
ROBINSON COLLEGE
February 2020
This report is the third edition of the Robinson College Sustainability Report and covers activity in
2019 and early 2020 as well as plans for the year ahead.
This report now provides an opportunity for Governing Body to be kept informed about
developments within College generally as well as in respect of sustainability in particular.
Housekeeping
Waste Disposal
Skips
Since the last report, we have reviewed the College use of skips. In the past we have used skips
from Mick George, which although they were processed through a recycling plant, they could not
guarantee this was a landfill-free option. We have now swapped skips that the Housekeeping
and Maintenance department use to Ellgia who, as with the other waste they process form us
guarantee a landfill-free solution. The waste from the skips is sorted at their processing plant to
remove any usable recycling material and the remainder is processed for waste derived fuel. The
gardens department still use Mick George for their green waste and are happy that this waste is
processed in an environmentally friendly way (for composting).
Waste bins
The figures from Ellgia for the last 12 months (1st January to 31st
December 2019) show an increase in the overall amount of
waste collected from our waste bins. In 2018 the total waste
collected was 113.84 tonnes, in 2019 this figure rose to 155.67
tonnes, an increase of almost 37%. We don’t have an
explanation as to why there has been such an increase but think
we need to investigate how we can encourage everyone in the
College to reduce the overall waste we produce.
Despite the increase of total amount of waste, there has been a positive move towards recycling
more. Although the comparative percentage of glass that is recycled has dipped very slightly (by
0.08%), the percentage of mixed recycling has increased and the percentage of food waste and
general waste have both reduced. We hope this trend will continue.
Waste recycling figures comparison (%)
50 46.38
39.28
40 36.50
30 27.47
20.23 18.92
20
10 5.92 5.30
0
Food waste General waste Mixed glass Mixed recycling
Jan - Dec 2018 Jan - Dec 2019
Waste recycling figure comparison (Tonnes)
200
155.67
150
113.84
100
52.8 61.14 56.81
50 23.03 29.46 31.27
6.74 8.26
0
Food waste General waste Mixed glass Mixed recycling Total
Jan - Dec 2018 Jan - Dec 2019
Other facts and figures provided by Ellgia:
Swiss Laundry Swiss Laundry is currently our appointed contractor who provides a laundry service for both the housekeeping and catering departments. This year Swiss Laundry have invested heavily in improving their environmental impact, firstly with a new £5 million laundry facility in Great Yarmouth and more recently a brand new facility in Papworth to replace their Cherry Hinton Road laundry. These two facilitles are now some of the most environmentally friendly laundries in Europe. Swiss recognise that “for businesses, that require laundry operation, true sustainability means considering all sides of conservation. That translates to limiting energy and water, as well as focussing on environmentally-friendly processes. It’s about finding a holistic solution, not fixing one piece of the puzzle.” The innovation includes a total wash concept that recycles water, recovers heat, reduces overall waste, reduces energy consumption and a reduced carbon footprint. The new facility uses 1/3 less energy per kilo of laundry washed. Their other commitments include continuing investment to improve the carbon footprint and environmental impact of their vehicle fleet, reusing, recyling and donating old linen, reducing paper usage and minimising packaging.
Zero Waste Recycling
We have continued to send printer cartridges for recycling and reuse. The figures below show
a decrease in the number of cartridges sent in 2019. All cartridges are either re-used or broken
down for recycling.
Weight
Year
No. Items sent (kg) % reused % recycled
2018 194 58 92 8
2019 143 48 86 14
Mattress Recycling
Disposal of mattress has always been a difficult problem for the hospitality
sector. However, we are delighted that one of our suppliers has now made
links with a company that can recycle mattresses and beds. Nothing goes
to waste; springs, wood, carcasses and filling material are all recycled and
most of the parts go back into the furniture industry.
Beginning of Term Sale
Once again, in October, we held our beginning of
term sale. We kept all the items that the students
had left behind in June and offered them to our
students, staff and fellows for re-use in return for a
donation to charity. This year we raised a fantastic
total of £957 – over £162 more than last year –
which was donated to Diabetes UK in memory of a
staff colleague who sadly passed away very
suddenly in August. All the items that were not
reused by our own students, staff and fellows were
collected by the British Heart Foundation to be sold
in their shops.
Catering
GREEN IMPACT – The University’s environmental accreditation scheme
It supports and encourages departments and colleges across the University in reducing their
environmental impacts.
In 2019, Robinson College achieved platinum for the 1st time!
Email from Peter Lumb:
Well done on your Green Impact audit! Your auditors seemed really impressed with the work that had
taken place at Robinson College and fedback really positively about everything they saw. In their words,
they said “Outstanding Green Impact activities” have been implemented by this team. It was great to see
the constant effort to try to get everyone involved, and the team have a very positive attitude to constant
improvement, and are already looking at new goals for next year”. They mentioned that they were
particularly impressed to hear about the water source heat pump, which shows the College’s ambition,
and the implementation of this was impressive in how many people were involved in the project. Your
auditor was happy with the evidence provided in your workbook submissions and confirmed that you did
not need to submit any further evidence.
Kind regards,
Peter Lumb BSc MSc MIEMA CEnv
Environmental Coordinator, University of Cambridge
VIVREAU – ADVANCED WATER SYSTEMS Last year we installed a chilled still & sparkling water dispenser in both College kitchen and CWB to substantially reduce costs of purchasing pre-bottled mineral waters re-usable glass bottles in 425ml, 500ml, 750ml and 1litre sizes. Bottles can be personalized, save the environment, eliminate regular deliveries as well as the disposal of empty bottles and packaging. High performance ice bank refrigeration system capable of delivering very high volumes of chilled water at low temperatures, particularly at peak demand times. Power saving option to reduce electricity!
Sustainability:
We achieved many actions around single use packaging/plastic last year. From the 24th June
2019, kitchen and food service staff started using milk pergals, 24 pints instead of 4 pints
plastic bottles, which have reduced costs by £300 per year and save having to send 2,700
plastics bottles a year to be recycled. This has also helped to reduce our recycling costs across
College.
We also implemented home baked cookies for CWB day meetings instead of wrapped
bought-in biscuits
New agreements with most catering suppliers to reduce cardboards use and encourage reuse:
o All meat coming in in plastic containers which are sent back and reused
o Fruits and vegetables cardboard crates are being collected back and reused
o Flat pack cardboard from wrapping tins and dry products are sent back to Thomas Ridleys
o Incentive is both financial (less waste picked up) and environmentally friendly - 500 boxes sent
back in the last 6 weeks.
o See below:
Supplier Packaging recycling
SUPPLIER Type of container Action Taken
Andrews Boxes and Bringing tubs with meat in bags so decanted into our
plastic bags red boxes
Aldens Boxes and Bringing most poultry in bags in tubs so decanted
plastic bags into our red boxes
Marrfish Boxes and Boxes are decanted into our blue boxes
plastic bags
Stickleback Boxes Boxes are decanted into our blue boxes
Hilarys Boxes and Our gardeners use some in the gardens department ,
Plastic trays the rest are recycled
Plan to arrange for Hilary’s to take all their cardboard
back
Sheringhams Boxes and Clean boxes are returned and recycled
plastic bags
Blunham Dairy Plastic Changed to pergals
polybottles
Foodwell Plastic bags None taken
Barkers bakery Plastic bags Recycled
Brakes Boxes and Boxes are recycled
plastic bags
Cheese + Boxes and Boxes are recycled
plastic
Powters Boxes and Boxes are recycled
plastic bags
Ridleys Boxes, plastic Most packaging is recycled. They now collect their
bags and tins own cardboard
2020 Future plans/ideas for the Catering Department:
Provide at a cost at start of term, a Tupperware container for students to bring
along to GR and use instead of recyclable takeaway containers?
Waste packaging from pizza in RBC to be dealt with better.
CWB menu displays on monitors via USB hub. Explore and budget for GR too.
Include environment section at the staff engagement days.
Bio-hitech food waste digester to reduce costs of food waste disposal, remove
diesel pollution and truck movements, and deliver a bundle of other Sustainable
and green benefits.
Encouragement of other catering staff to join the Environment group.
Reduction of ruminant meat including reducing mid-week roast
Student surveys to gather feedback and ideas.
Encourage ‘keep cup adoption by students/staff
Return of meat free Monday – Started already!
Gardens
Starting a few years ago, the RBCB now bring their spent coffee grounds to us. We put these on
the compost heap as, apparently, they hold nitrogen which is vital for healthy plant growth. On
average this amounts to a large waste bin per week, not filling up wheelie bins.
As before, we continue to chip woody material to save on skips, log up larger wood & pass on
to staff & Fellows. Also composting where we can avoiding broadleaf weeds, which also saves
on skips and, going back into the soil, improves structure & quality for growth of plants. We re-
use pots, canes, stakes & ties unless beyond saving.
We source the College supply of Xmas trees (5) from a grower near Ipswich, thereby reducing
the carbon footprint created by transporting from Holland via a distributor to us.
The department continues to use Aspen alkylate petrol in our 2-stroke machines. This was
initially developed for work health reasons - contains virtually no harmful substances such as
benzene, aromatic hydrocarbons, polyaromatic hydrocarbons or olefins. Ordinary petrol contains
around 100 substances including these harmful ones but Aspen petrol only has around 10 of the
least harmful. This means that health risks from exposure to petrol fumes and exhaust fumes
are minimised. Aspen 2 for 2-stroke machinery “improves machine performance & ensures a
longer service life. The cleaner petrol means in turn, a cleaner engine with fewer deposits.” The
machines produce no clouds of oily smoke & very little smell.
The Head Gardener is still monitoring the development of battery-powered machinery & when
he considers it to be practical for our purposes he will look into the purchase of suitable
machines. He is considering replacing 2 of our strimmers with battery powered ones at the next
update and is purchasing a battery powered pole chain saw. We have a set of battery powered
hedge trimmers, which have proved quite effective for smaller jobs or in conjunction with the 2-
stroke machines. These share batteries with our leaf blower, thereby giving us the range of 3
batteries worth of power. This means, if we can put the spent one on charge quickly after it runs
out, then in theory we could have power for the machine all day.Library
Libraries by their very nature are “green” as they allow resources to be shared and re-used again
and again over the whole community. A small but important step this year has been the reduction
of paper achieved by not sticking a date return sheet into the front of
every book. Users now need to look at their online account to remember
when books are due back, or read the email reminders.
Students asked for extra recycling bins and these are now in place on
each floor of the Library. We held a Black Friday Book Sale to recycle
withdrawn books, the proceeds of which bought several new titles for
our wellbeing section. We use Anybook.biz to dispose of other stock;
they run a Help Your Library Scheme where individuals can donate
books and nominate a library to receive a share of the profits raised from
sales.
We also have a “green box” where files and other stationary items are
recycled and swopped.Maintenance Archive Building The New archives building has now replaced room 5a of no 5 Adams Rd. The new building works were completed in January 2020. The high building specification which included 15m piles and is very highly insulated will bring together and house all the College archives. The building works took around 6 month to complete and includes a library archives store and a reading room. The high specification includes air management system and is highly insulated. The old extension in ready for demolition Drone view of the slab which shows a good relationship between the existing building and 5 Adams rd.
Demolition of the old Pile caps in ready for new foundation.
Completed buildingThorneycreek House
The house has been in a poor state of repair for some considerable time and required a full
electrical rewire. Heating in the house has also been very challenging over the last few years
with hot water circulation getting poorer by the day.
The project objective is firstly to become compliant with the ever-increasing and changing
regulations and demands from students for better accommodation and to meet the basic
requirements of ANUK National Code for student accommodation.
In order to meet those requirements we have had to lift floorboards, take out some ceilings,
and replace walls, all in order to bring the house round to the basic compliance. The project
was not directly aimed at a full refurbishment. However, we have looked at how to improve the
quality of the rooms, kitchens and bathrooms as well as the circulation around the house.
As with all old buildings you never know what you are coming up against until you start. For
example, we have had areas of the house that have required joists to be supported due to rot,
foul drains that have been old lead to plastic to steel and back again.
As well as bringing the electrics up to standard we also had to bring the fire detection system
up to meet the L2 requirements.
Although there is much more we could have done to improve the house, budget restrictions
have meant that we have only covered the basics and compliance issues. The external
aesthetics decorations to the house have not been undertaken at this time so we are
conscious that the external appearance is at odds with the high standard of finish achieved
with Thorneycreek Cottage. This will be reviewed as time and funding permit.
The external view of the house will
remain unchanged other than a few
details around the ground floor where
we will be creating a breathing space
and French drain to keep the ground
away from the damp course which was
previously breached.The boiler house has been totally reconfigured and designed to ensure all areas of the house experience consistent strong pressure to the sinks and showers. This part of the project required every room and corridor to have the floorboards taken up and replaced, Each room is now provided with a new radiator and thermostatic radiator valve for control of temperature within the individual room. These pipes are awaiting insulation but are to show an example of the complexity of the project. The new boilers with one of the expansion vessels which will help to withstand the water pressure demands throughout the house.
On the top floor we have created a
protected corridor to separate the
kitchen from the fire escape serving the
rooms beyond.
The seated area created as an area for
eating and socialising. We have allowed
space above the breakfast bar for
plugging in usb chargers etc.
The attic kitchen which is small but compliant
and is serviced with timed controls for cookingMain College Boiler replacement
The old boilers relating back to the Replacement boiler in the Main College
installation of 1976! building
These very reliable Alan Yengis boilers New more efficient Bosch boiler
are finally coming to the end of their installed throughout the summer period
practical life. It is with hesitation that we by CFB Boilers.
had to replace one of the 3 boilers as
they have been very reliable and The new boiler has a higher output and
required little maintenance. works more efficiently at 1200kwh.
The new boiler is more energy efficient
with a higher output.
In order to accept the new boiler a A new plinth and automatic
significant amount of pipework pressurisation unit has to be installed
alterations were required and a new roller door to allow the old
boiler to allow access to the plantrooom.5 Adams Rd Gable to upper bathroom
As found on previous
projects within 5 Adams
the small gables were
unsupported and had
moved away from the
main structure.
Works were put in place to
take the gable down and
following instructions from
the Structural engineer
rebuild and strengthen
and support the gable. In
turn this lead us to replace
the bathroom
5 Adams Rd Gable end
repairs showing support
straps being inserted to tie
the building to the main
roof and structure.
Looking into the open void
to show the building tying
in to the main structure.
This cavity was then
insulated before being
rebuilt.Water source heat pump. Works continue to press for the RHI, which has now taken several complaints to resolve but remains firmly on our list. We have now applied for a Certificate of Lawful Development which once in place, we hope will be the final Ofgem hurdle! 2 Adams Road Replacement windows from old original Replacement ramp in compliance with timber that had deteriorated to new access regulations. sympathetic UPVC double glazed. Water ingress report As a part of our summer 2020 refurbishment planning, we became even more aware of the water ingress problems that we suffer in the Main College Building. We are now in the process of developing greater intelligence on the size of the problem and the general condition of the building. Once in possession of this greater detail, a strategic approach will be adopted to work through the issues in an organised way. We expect the plan to take time to execute but will be commencing with the renewal of the Auditorium Roof walkway as a significant part of determining the underlying causes of the problem. This will be undertaken in summer 2020.
Porters’ Lodge
The Porters’ Lodge is contributing towards the sustainable life of the College by adopting the
following procedures and processes:
Removal of the Lodge watercooler and associated bottled water and replacement with a
filtered water jug supplied by mains water.
Recycling of student bicycles left behind by departing students. Autumn 2019 saw 45
bicycles sent to charity for refurbishment and reuse.
Introduction of paperless office procedures with respect to key issue, parcel notification
and music room bookings.
Recycling of useable or wearable lost property via Housekeeping department sales.
Promotion of recycling of cardboard from amazon or other courier deliveries (around 80
boxes a day in term) via the recycling points in College.
All envelopes opened in the Lodge are retained for internal re-use or given to students
or Fellows to re-use.
Staff Training
In January 2020 the third annual Staff Engagement Days were held for all staff to attend. We
used this opportunity to hold a session on “reducing your carbon footprint” and it provided an
outline of key information and a chance for individuals to understand how their actions can help
to prevent climate change. The session covered areas such as, “What determines our individual
carbon footprints? How can we make low carbon choices for our food, home heating, travel and
what we buy?”
We invited speakers from both Cambridge Carbon Footprint and Transition Cambridge to make
the presentation.
The sessions were well received by staff and the feedback was positive giving staff lots to think
about.You can also read
