Press release

Queen Margaret University shortlisted for three major Green Awards

Edinburgh, 28 September 2010; Queen Margaret University has been voted a finalist in the Overall Environmental Managementcategory and the Green Buildings & Facilities category in the Green Business Awards 2010 and, at the same time, has been shortlisted for a Scottish Green Award in the Public Sector Provision category. This is the latest in a series of accolades QMU has received for its holistic approach to sustainability.

Known as the Green Globes, The Green Business Awards celebrate excellence in sustainable practice, strategy and products by UK organisations. QMU is the only finalist selected from the education sector and winners will be announced at an event in London on November 2, 2010 . The Scottish Green Awards which recognises efforts of Scottish organisations in sustainable practices will be held at the Glasgow Science Centre on 30 th September 2010.

QMU’s campus on the outskirts of Edinburgh is renowned within the sector nationally and internationally in terms of sustainable design and management. It was nominated for the award for its ‘vision, commitment and relevance to sustainability’ which has been embedded within the university’s business plan. This means that the sustainability ethos is applied beyond buildings, fixtures and fittings to include sustainable leadership training and green curriculum development.

Commenting on the nomination, QMU Vice Principal Rosalyn Marshall said; “We were presented with an opportunity to review our entire approach to sustainability when the idea was first conceived for a green campus. We decided to aim high and go beyond the physical environmental measures to develop the social and economic sustainability of the entire institution and the communities it serves. We are delighted to have received such recognition for our work so far.”

Buildings on the campus, which was completed in 2008, have received a BREEAM rating of “excellent”, the globally recognised measure of environmental impact of buildings.  The rating for the academic building is still one of the highest scoring university projects in the UK. Implicated in this achievement is excellent space management, energy consumption, carbon reduction, “Green” ICT and ‘green’ transport. Thanks to an innovative organisational structure academics responsible for research and education take decisions jointly with the team responsible for the physical environment.

ENDS

Contact Maggie Wright on 0131 226 3622 or maggie.wright@mwa.co