Forming the CNU Working Groups

Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who showed up to any of the start-up meetings for the CNU working groups over the last couple of weeks! As mentioned in previous blog posts, in order to investigate specific ideas to reduce the University's carbon footprint we had decided to host meetings on particular topics. These meetings took place between July 6th and July 14th, and formed the basis of working groups focussing on these topics:

• Behaviour Change
• Buildings and Energy Efficiency
• Lobbying the University
• Renewable and Self-Generation Energy Solutions
• Knowledge Exchange.

The main aim of these start-up meeting was for group members and leaders to be established, and to brainstorm ideas for projects that the group could follow up on. It was great to see a wide range of departments and backgrounds represented, giving the groups a much wider knowledge base to start from. Outlined below are some the ideas suggested that the groups will begin work on soon, if the any of them interest you, please drop us an e-mail and we'll connect you to the right group.

Behaviour Change (06/07/15)

• Recycling Education: FInd out what existing information there is for people to find waste facilities and work on ways to advertise these more clearly to students.
  
• University outlets carbon footprint: Find out about opening hours and procurement decisions such as food miles and packaging etc.
  

Buildings and Energy Efficiency (07/07/15)

• Metering: Sub-metering of energy use in University buildings and monitoring of occupancy would highlight particular inefficencies that could be addressed. We want to find out about the current metering and monitoring systems installed and plans to extend these. Could try to apply for funding for a student project within this.

• Survey on working/teaching environments: Ask students and staff directly to evaluate the temperature control in University buildings to identify problem areas.
• Responsibilities: Whose responsibility is it to turn off lights, radiators, A/C units etc. in computer rooms and other multi-user spaces?

Lobbying the University (08/07/15) 

• Present our vision to important figureheads who could champion our cause, e.g. NUS, local MPs, and University executives.
• Start up a student society linked to the network.
• It was noted that a lot of the lobbying group's activity will be based on projects initiated by other groups.

Renewable and Self-Generation Energy Solutions (09/07/15)

• Solar Panels: Check the progress of Estates in surveying the University roof space for solar panel suitability. Work with the Students' Union to get Solar panels installed on the Union building.
• Solar Thermal: Is this a plausible heating technology in student accommodation?
• Onshore Wind: Find out the plans for future sites (Factory 2050?). Larger project for a wind farm has also been proposed, which would need wide support to gain traction.
• Biomass heaters: Substituting gas boilers for biomass in University buildings could cut these carbon emissions by 50%. Procurement of biomass and potential costs needs to be researched.
  

Knowledge Exchange (14/07/15)

• Organise open seminars/lectures on topics relevant to Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality.
• Open access database of information found from the working groups' projects.
• Searchable FAQ section of our website with useful references, which answers general Climate Change questions as well as specific questions about the CNU.
  

The next set of working group meetings will be arranged shortly, and will take place sometime in early August. If you'd like to get involved with any of the above ideas, or you have some of your own, please drop us an e-mail!