Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield Hallam University's sustainability programme engages staff and students to ensure progress against our environmental targets, and to embed sustainability across the organisation.

2014/15 marked our third consecutive year in the top 20 of the People and Planet University League with a rank of 15th, and our seventh First Class Award.

Sheffield Hallam is the fourth largest university in the UK, with 33,099 students, 4,494 staff, and a turnover of £257.1 million (correct as of 2013/14).

Policies and Targets
Sheffield Hallam has a suite of environmental policies which outline our key values, aims and objectives. The policies form the backbone of Sheffield Hallam's ISO 14001 Environmental and ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems, which identify and manage potential negative environmental impacts and areas of high energy use. Our Sustainability Framework underpins the management systems and policies with targets against which progress, success and continual improvement can be measured and quantified.

2014/15 Performance
• Energy: the University has reduced carbon emissions resulting from energy use in our buildings by 11.2% since 2005/06.                  
• Water: we have reduced water consumption by 48.9% since 2005/06.
• Waste: the amount of waste being produced per student has fallen by 35.7% since 2005/06. Recycling rates have increased from 10% to 27% since 2005/6.
• Fleet: the University has reduced the carbon emissions resulting from fuel used by our fleet by 3.4% since 2012/13.
• Buildings: 2 new buildings opened in 2014/15. The university achieved its first SKA Gold rating on an office building refurbishment in the city centre, and BREEAM Very Good status for our new flagship Heart of the Campus building at Collegiate Crescent.

Changing Behaviours
Sheffield Hallam's behaviour change programme has been running since 2013. It incorporates a number of individual campaigns to encourage behaviour change in order to meet our environmental targets and objectives e.g. recycling (Do the Right Thing), energy reduction (Switch it Off) and cycling (On Your Bike). The campaigns are delivered via our network of Green Champions.

Students' Union
The Students’ Union plays an important role in engaging our students in the sustainability agenda. The student green group - Sustain - has been established to run sustainability projects and shape environmental volunteering at Sheffield Hallam. In recognition, the Students’ Union received the Green Impact Excellence Gold award in July 2015.

During 2014/15 the Students' Union has engaged with the student body and University in numerous sustainability campaigns and events including: Love Food, Hate Waste workshops, herb giveaways, and undertaking weekly collections of uneaten food from university outlets to distribute to the Salvation Army. The strong partnership between the University and its Students' Union has enabled us to maintain our Fairtrade accreditation since 2007.

Coming Soon……
We are working with ITM Power to trial hydrogen fuelled vans in our fleet in early 2016. This is an exciting opportunity to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and help to improve the air quality for people living, working and studying in Sheffield.

Our full 2014/15 Annual Sustainability Report can be accessed at the following link: www.shu.ac.uk/university/overview/sustainability/docstore.html 

Main Contact Name: Katie Stead, Sustainability and Energy Strategy Manager
Main Contact Email: k.stead@shu.ac.uk 0114 225 3462
Further information/website: www.shu.ac.uk/university/overview/sustainability
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