Sustainability Credentials

BREEAM

QMU’s new campus is regarded as one of Scotland’s most sustainable developments – the campus buildings, including the main academic building, the satellite sports and student union building and the residential accommodation buildings - have gained a BREEAM rating of “excellent” (with the highest score recorded of any university project). For over a decade, the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) has been 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. Overall, the academic building BREAAM rating is:

• highest scoring university project in the UK
• highest scoring bespoke assessment in Scotland
• 2 nd highest scoring assessment in Scotland (of 48)
• 4 th Highest scoring bespoke BREEAM in the UK (of 58)

Envest

Envest is a software tool that simplifies the process of designing buildings with low environmental impacts by providing an estimate of the impact of a design. The results from Envest are measured in ecopoints.

An independent assessor undertook an assessment of the new campus project using Envest (ENVironmentalESTimation) software and results demonstrated an exemplary environmental performance. Using units of ecopoints per unit of gross floor area we achieved 17 ecopoints/ m² compared with 22 ecopoints/ m² for the Building Research Establishment (BRE) environmental building category and 40 ecopoints/ for BRE’s published figure for a typical building.

Ceequal

Is the Civil Engineering Environmental Quality and Awards Scheme and measures a broad spectrum of engineering aspects of projects to be assessed. Ceequal assessment is carried out by a trained assessor and validated by external verifiers. The campus development has been awarded an excellent rating.

National recognition of QMU's sustainability successes

• 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 new 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
• QMU won the Green ICT category of the Green Gown Awards 2009 for implementation of thin client, the sustainable ICT system which has been installed throughout the new campus, and received highly commended for the campus build and design
• The University won an International Green Apple Award 2009 for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage.
• Staff at QMU continue contribute to various sector Steering groups on Sustainability
• JISC selected QMU as a case study for green IT, and have produced a video describing our innovative "thin client" energy-efficient IT.

Material selection

Over 80% of the materials within the campus come from renewable sources.

Future commitments

We are committed to working closely with our partners to fulfil our role as a sustainability leader within the sector in the UK. The University was an early signatory to the Universities and Colleges Climate Commitment for Scotland and we are producing and publishing a 5-year Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP). This includes measurable targets and timescales to achieve a significant reduction in emissions from all business operations and activities, including: •energy Consumption and source; waste reduction, recycling and responsible disposal; sustainable estate development; sustainable travel planning; responsible procurement of goods and services

We have recognised that outstanding leadership is crucial if QMU is to achieve lasting and widespread sustainability. We have looked beyond creating green buildings and management structures to extend the reach and impact of our sustainable practices over the long term. We have identified that a green curriculum is crucial to the future sustainability of the university and could have far reaching impacts beyond university life. By creating graduates who are versed in sustainable practice our ambition is that they will then spread both practice and thinking as they progress throughout their careers and personal lives.

RELATED PRESS RELEASES

>> University takes lead in sector drive toward achieving sustainability (31 May 2010)

>> Queen Margaret University shortlisted for two awards (18 March 2010)

>> Consort scholarship with QMU sets direction for improved career path (17 February 2010)

>> Award proves recycling is not a load of rubbish (14 October 2009)

>> Ministerial visit recognises university's green credentials

>> Queen Margaret University awarded ‘Green Apple’
(29 June 2009)

>> Queen Margaret University wins top sustainability award (24 June 2009)

>> QMU shortlisted for Green Gown Awards (28 April 2009)

>> QMU signs up to climate change commitment (14 April 2009)