Green Credentials

At Queen Margaret University, we have placed sustainability at the very core of our vision, taking a joined up approach to the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development.

Our new campus, recognised as an exemplar in sustainability within the higher education sector nationally and internationally, is a physical example of our commitment to sustainability and is the foundation upon which our vision and strategy continues to develop.

Building Design: Energy Efficiency

Energy use is minimised through intelligent design that incorporates air tightness, and maximises daylight and natural ventilation through the use of energy efficient technology including biomass heating, intelligent lighting and thin client computer technology.

Through the use of a biomass heating system the campus's carbon emission – (its carbon 'footprint) is expected to be the lowest of any HE organisation in the UK. Biomass is generally considered to be any kind of plant material, vegetation, or agricultural waste used as a fuel or energy source. At the University a woodchip boiler generates heat for distribution around the campus.

The lighting system within the building is intelligent. The further you sit from a window the brighter the lighting in that area becomes, and if you sit close to a window, the lighting dims to compensate. Interior lighting brightens as evening approaches.

Thin client computer technology is used to minimise heat generation, and therefore reduces the need for ventilation. PC users do not have hard disk drives at their desks. 'Thin client' technology is used whereby software and hardware are stored at central servers. The energy consumption of the thin client terminals is significantly less than a traditional PC.

Indoor air quality and ventilation
The majority of the building is ventilated naturally. An exposed concrete slab at the top of the building absorbs the heat generated during the day and then cools at night allowing the building to maintain a consistent temperature. Benign paint and floor finishes have been used, minimising negative environmental impacts – for example, much of the flooring used is marmoleum, a natural product made from linseed oil, wood flour, rosin, jute and limestone.

Water consumption
All of the water services (i.e. taps, sanitary fittings etc) have been designed to minimise water consumption.

Landscape Design – Biodiversity

Biodiversity
Biodiversity has been encouraged through the creation of wetland, woodland, hedgerow and meadow habitats, and the provision of roosting boxes for indigenous wildlife. Special wildlife corridors mitigate potential conflict between wildlife and human traffic. Other provisions to add ecological values include plant selection to encourage invertebrate and bird populations, and replanting of hedgerows.

Sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS)
A SUDS pond is a key feature of the design, to capture rainwater draining off roofs and paved areas, holding it back on site rather than contributing to downstream flooding. As well as providing a solution to the problem of excess surface water, the pond provides an excellent habitat for wildlife.

A detailed green travel plan has been implemented to encourage students, staff and visitors to make use of sustainable forms of transport.

A Fair Trade University

On the 12th May, QMU was awarded Fairtrade status by the Fairtrade Foundation. This achievement demonstrates the University’s commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade.

As a Fairtrade University, QMU ensures that Fairtrade products are available in as many places as possible, as well as raising awareness of Fairtrade with students, staff and visitors about the benefits that it brings to producers in developing countries.

The achievement of this award reflects QMU’s commitment to social justice and sustainable business. In March, QMU hosted an educational conference which encouraged the promotion and adoption of Fairtrade products in Scottish educational institutions.

Sustainable University - Awards

• Green Gown Awards 2011

The university achieved success in the Green Gown Awards for the third year in a row. QMU was highly commended in the Green ICT category of the prestigious awards which recognise exceptional initiatives undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK to minimise their environmental footprint and enhance their social contribution.

This year, the award acknowledged the University’s holistic approach to green ICT, whereby the University has combined estates and information technology to ensure both elements are recognised as inseparable.

The University was also highly commended in the Energy Efficiency Category of the Green Business Awards 2011 which were announced last week.  The university, which also achieved highly commended last year, succeeded in the face of stiff competition, along with Birmingham City Council, Amey and category winner WEMSinternational

• Scottish Green Award - September 2010

QMU won a Scottish Green Award for its holistic approach to sustainability, picking up the gold award in the Public Sector Provision category

• e-Government National Award - January 2010

QMU was the winner of the e-Government National Award 2010 in the category for sustainable, ‘green IT’ or ‘carbon-efficient’ services.  

QMU won the award for going beyond its successful implementation of thin client technology throughout the institution and further reducing energy and carbon consumption from its IT systems. 

• QMU - Green Apple Award – June 2009

Queen Margaret University was presented with the International Green Apple Award 2009 for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage.

The Green Apple trophies are awarded annually in recognition of building projects that enhance the built environment and/or protect our architectural heritage. The Green Apple Awards campaign is run by The Green Organisation, an independent non-political, non-profit organisation that recognises rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world.

The new QMU campus is considered to be an inspirational example of a modern University facility and is one of the UK’s most environmentally sustainable university campuses.

• QMU - Green Gown Award – June 2009

Queen Margaret University was presented with a national Green Gown award for sustainable information and communication technology. QMU won the Green ICT category of the 2009 awards for implementation of thin client, the sustainable ICT system which has been installed throughout the new campus.

The Green Gown Awards recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives being taken by the UK’s education institutions.

QMU was also ‘highly commended’ in the Sustainable Construction category of the Green Gown Awards. This recognises the exceptionally high standard of sustainability within the design and build of the Craighall campus.

• Voted a finalist in the Overall Environmental Management category and the Green Buildings & Facilities category in the Green Business Awards 2010.

• QMU was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2007 under the category of 'Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development'.

• Numerous HE and FE institutions and private sector organisation have visited the campus throughout its development to view and discuss the sustainability element of the project, and QMU’s Director of Estates and Facilities has spoken at various national conferences on 'the sustainability campus'.

• The new campus development has been selected as case study by the Scottish Funding Council as an exemplar of sustainable development, featuring in their 'Building Knowledge' report.

• QMU’s green travel plan is being tracked by the Scottish Government as an exemplar of major institutional travel planning.

• The university’s biomass project has been adopted by the Scottish Government as a case study.

• Wyse Group have used QMU’s use of thin client technology as a case study.

• Space management is a key aspect of the sustainable campus and QMU has been adopted as a case study by the HE-sector wide space management working group.

• Staff at QMU continue contribute to various sector Steering groups on Sustainability.

QMU – BREEAM Rating
The new campus building is regarded as one of Scotland’s most sustainable – having gained a BREEAM rating of “excellent” (the highest BREEAM score of any university in the UK). BREEAM is the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method used to assess the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings. It is regarded by the UK's construction and property sectors as the measure of best practice in environmental design and management.

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