Carbon Neutral University Network - University of Sheffield
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Vision
    • Our History >
      • Our Network Founders
    • The case for a carbon neutral university
    • Notable Supporters
  • News
    • Sustainability strategy news
    • CNU Newsletters
  • Events
  • Students
  • Communications
  • Projects
  • Resources
    • Climate 101
    • University >
      • Carbon League tables
    • Strategy
    • The future of buildings
    • Zero Carbon University Guide >
      • Embracing Systems Thinking
      • Conditions Which Encourage
      • More Time to Meet
      • Paul Allen - Zero Carbon Britain
      • Lisa Hopkinson - Making it Happen
      • David Somervell - Edinburgh University
      • Adam Howard - Theory U
      • Christian Unger - Carbon Neutral University Network
      • Aaron Thierry - Divestment campaign
      • Stephen Folkes - Engineers Without Borders
      • Hannah Short - Solar SOAS
      • Jon Johnson - REACH Homes
      • George Coiley - A sustainable vision for Sheffield
      • John Grant - Aquaponics
    • Climate Change Communication - George Marshall
    • Reducing Academic Flying
  • Join
  • Contact

CNU letter to Social Sciences Building consultation

25/7/2016

14 Comments

 
Dear all,

today, the 25th of July, is the deadline to respond to the social sciences building consultation that we emailed you about previously. We hope many of you have sent your thoughts to the consultation and we hope you will be heard. However, as you also know, We have written an open letter (see below) from this network to submit as part of the consultation. The letter outlines our concerns with the aim of engaging with Estates and Facilities Management (EFM) in a positive way on this issue. This letter has been submitted today - on the last day of the consultation, and we will keep you up to date with their response.

For now, thank you to all that have signed the letter as of today (40 signatures) and please send us your name if you would still like to add to the signature list below.

Thank you!

Link to consultation with details to the social science building (note this link might expire after the 25th):  http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/efm/estatesdevelopment/projects/social-sciences-building

CNU letter

Sustainability of the proposed Social Sciences Hub at the University of Sheffield
 
The University of Sheffield is a dynamic, growing institution at the forefront of research and learning in the UK and worldwide. We, the Carbon Neutral University network and the undersigned, appreciate and support the continual need to update and improve our facilities to maintain this high standard. We also recognise the important role of our many iconic campus buildings, from Firth Court, to the Arts Tower to the best Student Union in the UK, in representing the University community.
We have therefore viewed the current plans for the Social Sciences Hub with great interest and welcome the opportunity to engage with Estates and Facilities Management through the ongoing public consultation.
Several aspects of these plans we have support for. The provision of publicly accessible green spaces, including through pocket parks, will promote biodiversity and allow the building to both benefit and better integrate into its immediate surroundings. Similarly, plans for a sustainable drainage system including rain gardens and swales are very positive.
However we also wish to raise major concerns with regard to the sustainability of this building. While we raise specific queries in response to these plans, our concern and interest in appropriate and ambitious sustainability targets is applicable to development across the University more generally. We hope that this consultation will (a) facilitate clarification and (b) engender an ambitious response to the concerns below.
  • No sustainability targets are mentioned in these plans. Such targets are key to ensuring any proposed measures to improve sustainability are maintained throughout construction. Are targets for energy and sustainability currently being considered for this building?
  • How will these targets relate to recognised sustainable design standards, such as BREEAM, LEED or Living Building Challenge?  The My Sustainable Campus webpages state “The University of Sheffield has committed to developing low carbon buildings, setting ourselves the ambitious target of BREEAM excellent as a minimum for all new capital projects ─ the most widely used environmental assessment for buildings.”  Is that the case for this building?
  • We recognise that some commonly used standards may not always reflect effective and innovative sustainable design, particularly in relation to energy. If EFM feels this is the case, will an alternative, ambitious target appropriate for such a flagship build (such as zero carbon) be set?
  • What efforts have so far been made to include carbon positive design features? Is there potential (for example) to develop the use of carbon positive building materials such as timber?
  • How has prominent research and expertise at the University of Sheffield, such as that in solar and other renewable technology, and in green roofing, been recognised and incorporated into this design? Could use of this expertise be developed further?
  • We support the consideration of renewable energy solutions described in the plans, but would welcome clarification as to what these solutions are and how much they will contribute to the overall energy use of the building.
  • Finally, in plans to improve traffic flow and pedestrian access in the Northumberland Road area, how have the needs of cyclists been considered?
The precedent for sustainable, low or zero carbon University buildings exists across the University sector. At the University of Nottingham, the Jubilee campus features green rooves, photovoltaic cells and passive ventilation. The striking Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia achieved the Passivhaus standard and also makes extensive use of renewable energy.  
Setting and meeting aspirational sustainability targets will enable this building to be forward-looking and competitive. We hope the Social Sciences Hub will reflect our leading research in sustainability and serve as a flagship for both the campus and the ethos of the University community.

We look forward to your response.

Signatures

  1. Alasdair Cochrane, Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics
  2. Andrew Merson, Undergraduate, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  3. Fionn Stevenson, Professor, HoD, School of Architecture
  4. Stephen Folkes, Undergraduate, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering
  5. Nick Nuttgens, PhD Student, School of English
  6. Lenny Koh, Professor, Management School
  7. Hamish Cunningham, Professor, Department of Computer Science
  8. Aldous Everard, Business Development Manager, Sheffield Solar, Physics and Astronomy
  9. Matt Watson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography
  10. Adam Howard, MSc student, Centre for Alternative Technology/ University of East London
  11. Paul Jarman, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Biomedical Sciences
  12. Briony Norton, Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept Animal and Plant Sciences
  13. Philip Warren, Professor, Dept Animal and Plant Sciences
  14. Kiran Malhi-Bearn, Sustainability officer, Sheffield Student’s Union
  15. Liam Ratcliffe, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Chemistry
  16. Eleanor Absalom, Undergraduate, Department of Geography
  17. Christian Unger, Grantham Research Fellow, Faculty of Science
  18. Christopher Baines, Undergraduate, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
  19. Kathryn Aston, English Language Teacher, English Language Centre
  20. Melanie Hannah, Departmental Manager, Department of Biomedical Sciences
  21. Rachael Treharne, PhD Student, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
  22. Joe Hook, Undergraduate, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering
  23. Lizzie Jewitt, Undergraduate, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences/ Department of Geography
  24. Juliet De Little, Undergraduate, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering
  25. Gwen Welsh, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Geography
  26. Emily Vincent, Undergraduate, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
  27. Hayley Stevenson, Reader in Politics and International Relations, Department of Politics
  28. Holly Lawford-Smith, Research Fellow, Department of Philosophy
  29. Danial Sturge, Policy Assistant, Green Alliance and PhD Alumni, Mechanical Engineering
  30. Adam Picot, staff, English Language Teaching Centre
  31. Sian Morrey, staff, English Language Teaching Centre
  32. Joanna Sutcliffe, English tutor, English Language Teaching Centre
  33. Ruby Lee, undergraduate, Department of Philosophy
  34. Fiona Graham, PhD Student, Human Nutrition Unit
  35. Jenny Patient, Campaigns Worker, Sheffield Climate Alliance
  36. Jamie Gough, Senior lecturer, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
  37. Hannah Sewell, PhD student, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
  38. Monica Ortiz, PhD student, Department of Geography
  39. Richard Bradford, English Language Tutor, English Language Teaching Centre
  40. Megan Lewis, Business Development Manager, Sheffield Science Gateway
  41. Lauren Jones, Sheffield Climate Alliance committee member and National Campaign Against Climate Change steering committee member
  42. Sarah Boddy, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Biomedical Science
  43. Steve Jubb, PhD student, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
  44. Cilla Hollman, English Language Tutor, English Language Teaching Centre
  45. Michael Livingstone, PhD Student, Department of Landscape
  46. Fay Rodrigues, English Language Tutor, English Language Teaching Centre
  47. Deborah Cobbett, English Language Tutor, English Language Teaching Centre
  48. Richard Bradford, English Language Tutor, English Language Teaching Centre
  49. Sharon Oliver, Director of Engagement and Development, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health
14 Comments
Sarah Boddy
27/7/2016 12:51:37

Sarah Boddy, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Biomedical Science

Please add me to the list of signatures

Reply
Ann Clayton
27/7/2016 14:14:01

Reply
Christian
5/8/2016 10:36:07

Dear Ann, could you please add your position and department at the university, so we can add your details to the list. Thanks.

Sharon Oliver
5/9/2016 12:42:31

Please add me to the signatories.

Sharon Oliver, Director of Engagement and Development, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health.

Reply
Christian
23/9/2016 21:30:43

Thank you Sharon. I added you to the list of signatories. Sorry for the delay. However, so far we had no response to our letter.

Josie Taylor
27/7/2016 13:30:40

Please add me to the list

Reply
Christian
5/8/2016 10:33:18

Dear Josie, could you please add your position and department at the university, so we can add your details to the list. Thanks.

Reply
john brokenshire
27/7/2016 13:47:57

please add me to the list

Reply
Christian link
5/8/2016 10:32:18

Dear John, could you please add your position and department at the university, so we can add your details to the list. Thanks.

Reply
Steve Jubb
27/7/2016 14:12:06

Please add me to the signatories - Steve Jubb, PhD Student, Dept of Chemical & Biological Eng.

Reply
Cilla Hollman, Englush Language Tutor, English Language Teaching Centre
27/7/2016 23:30:21

Please add me to the list of signatories.

Reply
Michael Livingstone
28/7/2016 08:08:14

Please add me - PhD student, Landscape Department

Reply
Fay Rodrigues
28/7/2016 09:36:52

Please add me to the list - English Tutor, English Language Teaching Centre

Reply
bitcoin nasıl alınır link
27/7/2022 10:09:39

https://www.kriptoseyir.com/category/bitcoin-nasil-alinir/

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    This page is maintained by the CNU Steering Committee

    Archives

    December 2019
    June 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015


    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Tweets by @CNUniShef
    Carbon Neutral University - Sheffield
Proudly powered by Weebly