Here are some of the ways our Library contributes to the University's environmental sustainability agenda...
Our Natural & Built Environment
- The Library overlooks one of the University's eight 'mini meadows' - which are specifically designed to support biodiversity - and is surrounded by trees including include beech, hornbeam and silver birch.
- A number of 'windcatchers’ on our roof allow large parts of the first floor to be ventilated naturally.
- Ceiling lights are motion-activated in most areas of the building.
- Much of the building has underfloor heating (over 2 miles of pipes!), which is more energy efficient than other forms of heating.
- Toilets in the building are flushed with rainwater, with mains water only being used when the (very large!) rainwater tank runs dry.
Responsible Consumption & Recycling
- Recycling bins are located throughout the building and we take cardboard to a central recycling point on campus.
- We routinely send withdrawn books to a company based in our city who sell them on and give them a new life.
- We re-use parcel packaging, envelopes and all order cards supplied with new books from our main book supplier, and have a scrap paper tray by our photocopiers to encourage students to recycle unwanted paper.
- We use cardboard box lids to organise documents and paperwork.
Resources & Processes
- We routinely carry out repairs to extend the life of old or damaged library resources.
- We make sure our library freebies (pencils, notebooks etc) are plastic free.
- The availability of online resources means we don't buy as many print resources as we used to.
- We have compiled a reading list on climate change and environmental issues.
- The vast majority of communication to library users is electronic (unless face-to-face), and library documentation and records are mostly maintained and stored electronically.
Head of Library Services, Emma Sansby, is our team lead on environmental sustainability and is also Chair of BG Green, the University's working group on environmental sustainability and ethical practice. Contact Emma at library@bishopg.ac.uk and/or read more about the University's work in this area.
