Harper awarded Carbon Trust Standard

Posted 23 March 2010

Harper Adams University College has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard, for taking action against climate change by measuring, managing and reducing its carbon intensity.

Only 15 other UK universities have achieved this standard to date, and Harper Adams is the first specialist Higher Education Institution to have received such recognition for its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

Karen Hughes, Environment and Waste Management Officer at the University College said: “We’re delighted to have achieved the Carbon Trust Standard. It is a great way of showing that we have taken action on climate change and a way to communicate our environmental credentials to those that matter.  We have reduced our carbon intensity* by 6.9% over the last 3 years and are committed to making further reductions in the future.”

Measures to cut carbon emissions at Harper Adams include:
• Installation of sub-metering to monitor and focus on reducing energy use in high use areas
• The catering department sourcing as many ingredients as possible from the University College’s own farm and local suppliers in a bid to reduce food miles
• Use of photovoltaic (solar power) tiles to generate power equivalent to that used by electric vehicles to collect materials for recycling from across the campus
• A biomass unit which provides hot water for campus buildings
• Natural lighting and ventilation to reduce energy use in the library via an intelligent building system

Furthermore, an anaerobic digestion unit, which will generate power from food waste, is currently at the planning stage. When it is operational, Harper Adams should be able to offset its carbon emissions more than three times over.

Harry Morrison, General Manager of the Carbon Trust Standard, said: “Being certified with the Carbon Trust Standard is proof an organisation has taken genuine action to reduce their direct impact on climate change by cutting carbon emissions. We congratulate Harper Adams University College on this achievement.”

Harper Adams Principal Dr David Llewellyn added: “Harper Adams Principal Dr David Llewellyn added: “Harper Adams is committed to combating climate change and sustainability is a key feature of our teaching and research. We aim to demonstrate how carbon management can be put into practice by using sustainable technologies, such as our biomass heating system, on our campus.  We also actively consider the environmental impact of our activities. 

"Special congratulations are due to Karen and colleagues who assembled the application for the Carbon Trust Standard; and my thanks go to all the staff and students who contribute on a day-to-day basis towards the reduction of Harper’s carbon footprint.”

* Tonnes of CO2e/revenue

Organisations wanting information about the Carbon Trust Standard can call: 0800 019 1443 or visit www.carbontruststandard.com.