Help us to build a chocolate mile out of your hand prints and be a part of Fairtrade fortnight 2012!
Monday, 5th March 2012
Where and When?: 6 March 2012, Holden Gallery Cafe area, 12pm – 2pm
Come along and participate in our Fairtrade edible art campaign… ‘print and lick’! MMU ‘Met Munch’ brigade from Hollings Campus are aiming to collect a mile of chocolate hand prints to raise awareness about the producers of cocoa beans in developing countries so that they get a better deal from trade.
To help us make a chocolate mile, all you need to do is…
Come along to Holden cafe area between 12 – 2pm
Dip your hand in melted chocolate
Leave a hand print
Wash your hands or lick it off!
They’ll also be a range of delicious sustainable and local chocolate cakes for you to try made out of Fairtrade chocolate, and a confessions of a Fairtrade chocoholic corner… come and tell us about your feelings when it comes to chocolate!
Did you know?........
It is known, chocolate (with high cocoa percentage) has some benefits that include:
• flavonoids – act like antioxidats that fight free radicals
• Reduces risk of blood clots and blood pressure
• boosts serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain
• Contains essential minerals and vitamins such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, B vitamins, d and e
• 12grams of dark chocolate 2-3 times a week
So in moderation, chocolate can be part of your diet and you don’t have to feel guilty!
And above all…..think chocolate!
Take a step for Fairtrade and register your step at fairtrade.org/step
Spring into gear with 2 weeks free bicycle hire!
Monday, 5th March 2012
Spring into gear with 2 weeks free bicycle hire!
There is a ‘bikeability’ level to match every ability, whether you are just starting out cycling or already have some good skills and just want to use your bike more safely and more often.
MMU are offering two weeks free cycle hire from iCYCLE coupled with free cycle proficiency training (available in levels 1, 2 and 3) from March 2012. You’ll receive a free cycle hire starter pack which includes a U lock, bike lights, helmet and high visibility vest when you sign up to participate.
i-CYCLE
Three weeks cycle hire for the price of two thought out March. Recycled bike hire from £6 per week or from £8 week for a new bike (including lights and a u-lock). For more information call 07800 867 815 or just pop in to the ground floor of the student Union.
Want to learn how to repair and maintain your bike?
Anybody who rides a bike can benefit from a little training. We’re offering free bike maintenance classes for staff at beginners, intermediate and advanced levels.
To register your interest email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or alternatively call the Travel Team on 0161 247 2989.
Free Bike Health Checks in Your Area
Transport for Greater Manchester is running drop-in sessions across Greater Manchester over the next few Saturdays to give your bike a helpful once-over.
Our experts will give your bike a health-check, including brakes, tyres, frame, steering, gears and chain. It’s not a service or an MOT for your bike but our technicians can make small adjustments on the spot, and give you a diagnosis for anything that needs a repair.
Thanks to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service we’ve been able to line up a series of sessions at fire stations around the area, so there should be one near you (please see the list below).
Just bring your bike between 10am – noon and 1pm – 3pm to the fire station below that best suits you.
The free cycle checks are part of the TfGM commuter cycle programme, wholly funded by the Department for Transport.
Bolton
10 March – Crompton Way, Bolton BL1 8UP
17 March – Albert Road, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9HF
Bury
10 March – Bury New Road, Whitefield M45 7SY
Manchester
10 March – Thompson Street, New Cross, Manchester M4 5FP
17 March – Rochdale Road, Blackley, Manchester M9 7EQ
17 March – Birch Street, West Gorton, Manchester M12 5NS
17 March – Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester M20 4AW
24 March –Brownley Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 5FG
24-March – Philips Park, Briscoe Lane, Manchester M40 2XG
Oldham
10 March – Broadway, Chadderton OL9 0JX
24 March – Hollins Road, Hollins OL8 3BD
Rochdale
10 March – Middleton Road, Heywood OL10 2LU
Salford
10 March – Bury New Road, Broughton, M7 4LE
17 March – Bolton Road, Pendlebury M27 8XS
24 March – Liverpool Road, Eccles M30 0RZ
Stockport
10 March – King Street West, Stockport, Cheshire SK3 0DT
17 March – Turves Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire SK8 6AY
24 March – Lisburn Lane, Stockport SK2 5NP
Tameside
10 March – Ramsbottom Street, Stalybridge SK15 1RF
17 March – Railway Street, Hyde SK14 1DF
Trafford
10 March – Cranleigh Drive, Sale, Manchester M33 7NT
17 March – 43 Manchester Road, Broadheath, Altrincham WA14 4RQ
Wigan
10 March – Gloucester Street, Atherton M46 0JT
17 March – St Helens Road, Leigh WN7 3PA
MMU tops Green Impact table
Tuesday, 24th January 2012
MMU is leading the way to creating a sustainable planet through behaviour change project Green Impact.
An amazing 67 departments have now been recruited with 413 staff actively involved – more than any other college or university in the country.
In total, simple actions to ‘green’ work spaces will reach and influence 2,128 staff members, approximately half of MMU’s total employees.
Last year, active members of the programme managed to complete 727 green actions in the areas of waste/recycling, transport, food, energy and maximising resources.
Amazed
Coordinators Robert Croll and Laura Williams have even higher hopes for this year’s teams: “We are amazed by the number of teams who’ve decided to get involved this year. Thanks to all of the teams who’ve been working so hard.
“At this rate we think we’ll double the number of actions completed on last year’s total, and we’d like to encourage everyone to keep up the hard work.”
MMU has been involved in Green Impact for three years, in which time it has gone from strength to strength.
Pamela Berry, SAS administrator, who won the Environmental Hero Award last year said: “The programme has given me a great opportunity to encourage and support my friends and colleagues at work in their green endeavours.
“It’s great to share ideas and experiences with like minded people – It’s a uniting and contagious force”.
Ahead of game
This year a total of 46 universities and colleges have committed to Green Impact, a 32% increase on last year’s figures. Between them a total of 800 Green Impact Teams have now been recruited and are actively reducing their Universities carbon footprint across the country.
The programme was nominated for the 2011 International Green Awards ‘Employee Engagement Award’. It is hoped that this year will bring about even more recognition for this effective vehicle for delivering true carbon savings.
Robert Croll adds: “With behaviour change now acknowledged as crucial for creating a sustainable planet at a local and national level, MMU is somewhat ahead of the game.
“Continuing to develop programs such as Green Impact is integral to creating low carbon societies. Only this approach will enable sustainable thinking to become embedded in our usual practices and the accepted platform upon which all decisions are made, the direction we should all be heading in.”
Find out more about Green Impact!!
Four different volunteering opportunities are now available that will allow staff and students to boost their experience, gain transferable skills and contribute towards creating a sustainable university for more information please visit http://www.mmu.ac.uk/environment/greenimpact ‘Get involved in Green Impact’
MMU leads way on energy
Thursday, 24th November 2011
MANCHESTER Metropolitan is rapidly becoming one of the most energy efficient large organisations in the country, according to the Environment Agency.
We rank 59th in the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme placing us ahead of the likes of United Utilities, the Department of Culture Media and Sport and Manchester City Council.
The University is even ahead of Marks & Spencer with their well-publicised zero carbon Plan A programme. MMU ranks sixth out of UK universities with Manchester 13th and Salford 125th.
More than 2,000 large organisations submit an annual report detailing CO2 emissions, details of Carbon Trust awards and data on heating, lighting and power use.
Sam Pickles, carbon reduction manager said: “We have managed to get 86% of our utility supplies on voluntary automatic metering which underlines how aware we are of the importance of monitoring energy usage.”
Director of Facilities, Heather Wilson said: “This is fantastic. We’ve achieved No1 position when compared to our University Peer Group and by a long way. Well done to Sam and everyone involved for getting us to this stage.
Tunde Adekoya, Student Union president said: “What an amazing job. Let’s keep it up.”
Top 20 ranking
In recent years, the university has climbed from 91st in 2007 to 17th last year in the leading university ‘green’ table run by People and Planet.
Total university emissions of carbon dioxide were 21,018 tonnes. Next year the ranking will also include performance on absolute reduction in emissions and reduction in emissions against a growth metric (turnover).
See the full Universities CRC league table here http://www.localenergy.org.uk/2011/11/crc-performance-league-table-all-universities/
iCYCLE at MMU!
Thursday, 24th November 2011
Another green travel project for MMU staff and students…...iCYCLE Manchester.
This project has been set up by the Students’ Union with the support of MMU Environment Team to offer rental bicycles to staff and students.
The business is set up in the MMU Students’ Union building on Oxford Road, and provides low cost sustainable bike hire to students, staff and members of the public as well as providing bike maintenance services at competitive prices. All hire bikes come complete with lights, lock, and a full year long maintenance package.
Hire charges start from £5 per week for students, £8 per week for staff and offer reduced monthly hire charges.
Watch out for great staff discounts on cycle hire for anyone who takes part in this year’s Green Impact competition.
If your interested in swapping your car, bus or train journeys for a bicycle, visit the MMUnion web pages http://www.mmunion.co.uk/icycle/ or phone 07800 867 815.
147 Oxford Road link bus
Thursday, 24th November 2011
MMU Environment Team and partners have launched a website about the 147 link bus service.
The 147 service, described as the cheapest, greenest bus in town, runs from Piccadilly to the universities and hospitals and runs every 10 minutes.
The website http://www.route147.co.uk/ offers:
Up to date service reports and news
A one stop shop for all the information on the service
An easy to use link which can be used on web pages and printed information (please do update your web pages and change printed information when feasible)
A simple link to send out to visitors, colleagues, conference delegates etc
A downloadable pdf of the new leaflet which includes a route map
Twitter and Facebook accounts linked to the homepage
Contact information regarding advance bulk ticket purchases for conferences and events
The website will be updated over time and there is the potential for an online bus tracker to added in the future.
Contact the Travel team for more information
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
0161 247 2989
Spring clean ahead of MMUBS move
Friday, 14th October 2011
THE BUSINESS School move to a brand new building at All Saints in 2012 promises a host of benefits for staff.
But among the first to reap the rewards are charities, students and the environment!
The mammoth job of moving lock stock and barrel a mile up the road is being coordinated by decant project manager Michelle Morris who explained:
“We’ve had tonnes of stuff to move so starting back in April we instigated a major Spring Clean. Everybody’s has 20-odd years of rubbish – files, folders, books, so everyone’s clubbed together to save and recyle.”
Academics, technicians and admin
Dozens of staff academic, technical and administrative staff have been involved in the Spring Clean which in July and August alone recycled:
- 2.4 tonnes of books raising £500 for the ‘African Children’s Education Trust.
- 1.37 tonnes of IT and electrical equipment
- 2.1 tonnes of IT and electrical equipment,
- 3.8 tonnes of paper and cardboard and
- 1.85 tonnes of plastics, metals and glass
A further 84 boxes of books were sent to an educational charity, and students have also benefited with one give-away during Freshers and another planned for January.
“Colleagues gathered 15 crates of filebooks, notepads, files and folders which we’ve been happy to give to students to save them some cash!”
“It’s been a bit of a teambuilding effort, I think, and has really helped us clear the decks for being in a new building, added Michelle.
Carbon footprint
And the environment benefits are clear; according to the University’s Environment Team Coordinator Sophie Leigh: “By recycling our wastes at Aytoun rather than sending to landfill, we’ve avoided 11.6 tonnes of C02 or C02 equivalent emissions, that’s the same as travelling 45,000 miles by car!”
The first of around 250 staff begin moving to the new in April 2012 with most expected to have left Aytoun by the end of May.
Weekly tours of the £75 million building are being organised for staff from November 2.
Halls staff ‘saving the planet’
Thursday, 13th October 2011
THE ENVIRONMENT Team has kicked off this year’s student halls energy saving campaign.
Student Switch Off, a campaign by the University and Student Union is a growing success story.Last year students managed to reduce electricity usage by an average of 10.7%, saving 250,644 kWhs or £20,000 on our electricity bill.
Student Switch Off saved over 135 tonnes of CO2 or approximately 10% of the shrinkage in the universities carbon footprint from last year.
Crewe champions
Reigning champions are Booth Hall (Acton), at Crewe, with a massive 19.4% reduction and the Manchester winners were Daisy Bank with an equally impressive 12.4% reduction.
Lauren Christopher, carbon reduction assistant said: “The savings from last year have just been confirmed and are brilliant. We’re really proud of what we achieved.”
The team, working with Halls managers and wardens, the Accommodation Office and the Student Union, are already building on the results by recruiting ‘freshers’. They held three welcome events in Cheshire and Manchester with goodie bags and a cycle-powered smoothie maker.
In Cheshire, students signed up as eco-power rangers and have pledged to use less energy in their hall. At Didsbury’s Broomhurst and at Cavendish and Cambridge halls In Manchester there were more goodies, an energy saving ‘Olympics’ and a mini quiz.
Facebook page
Sam Pickles, carbon reduction manager, said: “Over the course of the week more than 300 students have pledged to use less energy in their hall and 100 people have liked the ‘MMU Student Switch Off’ Facebook page.”
The first month of the competition starts in October with loads of prizes to be won such as: Gym memberships, bike rentals, drinks vouchers, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and tickets to club nights.
Journey Planning Offered!
Tuesday, 18th January 2011
Petrol prices getting you down?
Thought about getting the bus or train to work?
Thought about cycling a couple of days a week?
MMU Environment Team can now offer any staff member a personal journey plan for your daily trip to work!
We cover all aspects of your journey and can offer advice on ticketing, cycling routes and any other travel related questions you may have.
All you need to do is give us a call on 0161 247 2989 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and provide us with your home/work postcode, time of arrival and any other useful information you think we may need to plan your journey.
You can also visit our website http://www.mmu.ac.uk/staff/travel and have instant access to travel information in both Manchester and Cheshire.
Staff at MMU can apply for an interest free loan that will help you to pay for your annual ticket and could save you hundreds of pounds a year!
You could also use your Staff card at many cycle retailers for a discount on a new bike or accessories!
Even if you are just curious as to how much of a difference there is between your current car journey and by public transport, we can answer the questions so get in touch with us.
The Environment Team x
Welcome Jan 2011!
Tuesday, 18th January 2011
Happy New Year everybody and welcome to the Environment Team blog!
We have hit the ground running in the team as far as work is concerned….plenty to be cracking on with!!!
Car parking permits are hot topic at the moment with the new system working brilliantly and our new circular permits going down a treat with there new holders promoting Car Sharing on the back and of course our wonderful Carbon Trust Standard logo reflecting our hard work in the last few years reducing carbon throughout the University.
As for Waste, Sophie Leigh has been very busy standing in for Amanda (whom we should congratulate on her new addition!) and looking after all things bin like! The first phase of the Universities waste strategy has been approved by the top bods in the University which means that recycle points in buildings will be appearing shortly! Very exciting times!! Amanda worked very hard doing audits as background work and Sophie has followed that with helping to secure the funding to allow us to make that next step in reducing our carbon footprint!
Our placement students, Emma, Lauren and Laura have been settling well into the real world of work and helping out with various projects such as Green Impact, Student Switch Off and waste disposal contracts to name but a few!
Green Impact is now in its 2nd year and proving very positive in allowing staff to take responsibility for their own areas and improve them in various green ways whilst having the added motivation of a bronze, silver or gold award at the end of it! Jen Strong is co-ordinating the whole thing so keep an eye out for her newsletters, they are ace!
Student Switch Off is also an incentive style competition run for the students based in MMU Halls to try and get them to save energy in their halls….they get a slightly bigger prize of a party for the hall who save the most energy! Very rewarding and a nice little job for the party planner!!
Dr John is currently skiing the alps somewhere at the moment but he has been non-stop since returning in 2011 ….as well as helping to secure the funding for the aforementioned waste strategy, he has been working tirelessly on the Environment Team Marketing Strategy….hopefully launching soon! It looks amazing and will definitely put MMU on the green map!
Check in again with us soon for more updates including Fairtrade Fortnight, Journey Planning services and all things wonderfully green!!!!!!!!
Jason and the Environment Team xx
weblog homepage