This weeks post comes courtesy of our new Sustainability Projects Officer Tytus Murphy. Get to know the new team members and read more about what we do here.
The Sustainability Team at King’s work closely with our colleagues in Estates and Facilities to ensure our campuses and halls of residence are in tip top shape.
We are making progress in reducing the College’s carbon footprint, extending our recycling schemes into every nook and cranny and pushing for sustainable education and careers to become a focal point of life at King’s. We are very passionate about making these changes and championing the students and staff who help to make this happen.
We look forward to hearing your ideas about sustainability.
One of our most important roles and the thing we most like doing is to engage with students. Sure, we will share with you our top 5 tips on how to reduce your impact on the planet (see below) but we also encourage diverse discussion on the pressing sustainability issues of the time. This usually takes the form of putting on forums and supporting student-led events, where we come together to discuss subjects ranging from aquaponics to energy security in the EU to the impacts of green spaces (or lack of) on mental health.
The 3rd of October will see the inaugural launch of Sustainability Week in halls which will feature a series of exciting sustainability-themed events including film screenings and cycle safety sessions.
The centre piece of the week is the launch of the energy saving campaign NUS Student Switch-Off. Prizes for the most creative and brilliant energy savers include Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and NUS Extra Cards. Save some energy, win some ice-cream – what’s not to like?
Neil Jennings from the NUS Student Switch Off. He is serious.
There are a number of excellent environmentally and socially focused student groups at King’s such as EcoSoc, Fossil Free and Enactus that you should definitely know about. They all host events, put on socials and run campaigns providing a plethora of wonderful opportunities to learn new things, meet interesting people and make positive impacts on campus and beyond.
These groups and the Sustainability Team will be present and correct at the upcoming Fresher’s Fair and will also be participating in Sustainability Week. So come say hi, find more out about what we do and pick up some free Clipper Tea!
The King’s Sustainability Team offers information about on-campus activities, opportunities for career development and effusive support to students with an interest in sustainability. We look forward to meeting and collaborating with the class of 2016/17.
Now time for those top 5 tips:
- Transport: London is a super city to explore by bike. Cycling is cheaper, will get you from A to B way quicker and will also keep you fit.
- Food and drink: Eating less meat and dairy, hitting up your local farmers market for seasonal produce and buying organic are all super ways to reduce your environmental impact.
- Energy: Switching off appliances that you are not using is a no brainer for the planet and will also help reduce the College’s energy bills.
- (Thrift) Shopping: London charity shops and freecycle are treasure troves of pre-loved stuff.
- Occasionally we miss things, so please report any dripping taps, left on lights, etc. you see on campus or in halls to ask@kcl.ac.uk
You can get in touch with us by email sustainability@kcl.ac.uk and contact us through Facebook or Twitter. Keep up with the latest news by reading our blog and by subscribing to our mailing list.
Hearts and minds are won over at our Freshers stall.
