UIS's environmental action plan

Responsibility

The UIS Green Team is committed to leading the improvements in our environmental performance and is responsible for sharing information relating to environmental issues. Everyone at UIS has a responsibility to follow the guidance set out in this action plan.

Energy

The UIS Green Team will:

• Carry out annual basic energy audits with the support of the University's Environment and Energy Office and share an action list with the Senior Leadership Team.

Everyone will:

• Read the Purchasing Guidance for UIS Staff document (available on the staff intranet), which contains information on environmental considerations, before purchasing new electrical equipment.
• Take responsibility for switching off lights and electrical equipment where possible before they leave the building.
• Avoid using electric heaters unless there are exceptional circumstances.
  
  

Waste

Everyone will:

• Purchase/use paper made from pulp from sources that have been certified as sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
• Continue to share documents (for example, meeting papers and handouts) electronically wherever possible.
• Attempt to rehome any unwanted office furniture or reusable equipment before disposing of it. Specifically, they will use the University's Warp-it facility wherever possible to re-home unwanted items within the University.
• Continue to use the department's facilities for recycling to minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill.
• Place any unwanted stationery, envelopes, folders and files in the wall-hung recycle stations (near printers) so that they can be reused.
• Consider the environment before printing, and print double-sided whenever possible.

Transportation

The UIS Green Team will:

• Continue to promote the use of public transport, cycling and walking to staff and visitors.

Everybody will:

• Consider whether they can use video conferencing facilities an alternative to travelling to meetings.