Sustainability
Deeside College recognises its duty to reduce the impact it has on the environment. As well as ensuring the college complies with relevant environmental legislation, we aim to take a proactive approach to reducing processes which damage the environment.
Deeside College has been accredited to the Arena Green Dragon Level 5 environmental management system, supported by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Fairtrade
Deeside College was the first college in Wales to receive Fairtrade University status.
- Year on year sales are showing a steady increase in uptake of fair-trade products; 2006/07 total 20,826 products sold, 2007/08 total 29,263 products sold (+40%).
- Deeside College is fully committed to improving awareness of fairtrade through regular fairtrade events, both to raise awareness of products available and to improve student awareness of fairtrade and sustainability issues. Fairtrade fortnight is used as an opportunity to link fairtrade activities with the curriculum through a range of cross college activities.
- Deeside College provides a range of fairtrade products in all 3 outlets on main campus, including chocolate, snack bars, flapjacks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, juices, etc. We use only fairtrade coffee for internal meetings and buffets and have recently introduced fairtrade wine at functions.
- In our off site facility ‘Futures@Holywell’ all hot drinks are fairtrade in addition to a range of snack items
Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
- Students study sustainable development during their Welsh Baccalaureate programme and through the personal tutorial programme.
Interesting facts:
- Deeside College uses recycled paper for all printed publicity materials and the use of 100% recycled paper for all photocopying.
- The Student Association received £296.61 secured by their recycling of over 98 m3 of plastic via the college’s Plastic Recycling System.
- The College has invested in new boiler plant and despite the growth of the site and an increase in full time enrolments, we have reduced gas consumption by nearly 725,000 kWh against the previous academic year.
- Deeside College continues to develop its waste management and recycling systems. We have increased our waste recycled in the last academic year by 643 m3 against the previous academic year.
- Automatic lighting and solar power have been introduced to reduce our energy consumption.
- Solar Energy
Five solar collectors have been installed, which allow 80% of the college’s domestic hot water to be heated by solar energy. This technology significantly reduces the college’s demand for gas and provides a working demonstration for staff to incorporate into lessons or projects to benefit students. Gas renewable energy from the solar panels equates to 5,560 kWh. - Rainwater Harvesting
A rainwater harvesting system has now been installed in the new 14-19 Pathways Centre which uses ‘grey’ water for the use of toilet / urinal flushing within the facility. This has now been reviewed and wll be extended in to incorporate the main students existing toilet facilities. - Energy Budgets
The Engineering Department piloted the Energy Action initiative in 2007/08, by switching off lights and equipment not required at the end of each day, they managed to reduce their expected use by £960. This money is now being invested back into new equipment for the Engineering Department. - Due to the success of the Action Energy Initiative, the scheme has now been rolled out to include the new Construction Skills Centre.
More
- Targets & Achievements
Carbon Footprint - Sustainability Report
- Sustainability Policy
- Sustainability Policy (Cymraeg)
