The University of Kent is into its 3rd year of Green Impact, an environmental accreditation scheme with an awards element designed for university departments. The scheme aims to support individuals in making positive environmental behavior changes within their departments encouraging them to achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold Standard.
Over the three years over 30 Kent departments have taken part and implemented over 1000 positive green actions so far. This total has contributed to the 19,500 green actions implemented across the country at other Universities. In addition to the three award levels there are also a number of special awards where nominations are put forward to celebrate innovative achievements and congratulate environmental heroes. In April 2011 the School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA) won the Office Depot Innovation Award at Kent and was presented with its award by Deputy Vice Chancellor Keith Mander at the annual Green Impact awards ceremony. Its entry was then taken nationally to be judged by Office Depot against all the other winning entries from other participating Universities.
In October 2011 it was announced that EDA had won the National Office Depot Innovation Award and the School was presented with its award by Office Depot representatives and the National Green Impact Project Officer, Jo Kemp. Its winning entry comprises many innovative green ideas which all centre on bringing sustainability into the curriculum. The judges were impressed with the wide range of ‘green’ projects available to students, from an Undergraduate Digital Photography module which includes creating a poster based on an environmental theme, to stage 3 projects which include: monitoring the performance of solar panel technologies and developing intelligent battery chargers. The school also impressed the judges with their enterprising activities which support local companies, for example, the development of a networked power controller for Energy Solutions Ltd, Medway.
Head of School, Professor Sarah Spurgeon, was delighted with the award: “The Green agenda is at the heart of engineering and technology at the moment, and we are delighted that our efforts to embed this agenda within all facets of the life of our school have been recognised by this national award.”
The School has taken part in Green Impact since the University of Kent joined the scheme in 2009/10. In its first year the School was awarded Silver Standard and won the Best Energy Saving Award and in 2010/11 it was awarded Silver Standard with Honours.
Over the three years over 30 Kent departments have taken part and implemented over 1000 positive green actions so far. This total has contributed to the 19,500 green actions implemented across the country at other Universities. In addition to the three award levels there are also a number of special awards where nominations are put forward to celebrate innovative achievements and congratulate environmental heroes. In April 2011 the School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA) won the Office Depot Innovation Award at Kent and was presented with its award by Deputy Vice Chancellor Keith Mander at the annual Green Impact awards ceremony. Its entry was then taken nationally to be judged by Office Depot against all the other winning entries from other participating Universities.
In October 2011 it was announced that EDA had won the National Office Depot Innovation Award and the School was presented with its award by Office Depot representatives and the National Green Impact Project Officer, Jo Kemp. Its winning entry comprises many innovative green ideas which all centre on bringing sustainability into the curriculum. The judges were impressed with the wide range of ‘green’ projects available to students, from an Undergraduate Digital Photography module which includes creating a poster based on an environmental theme, to stage 3 projects which include: monitoring the performance of solar panel technologies and developing intelligent battery chargers. The school also impressed the judges with their enterprising activities which support local companies, for example, the development of a networked power controller for Energy Solutions Ltd, Medway.
Head of School, Professor Sarah Spurgeon, was delighted with the award: “The Green agenda is at the heart of engineering and technology at the moment, and we are delighted that our efforts to embed this agenda within all facets of the life of our school have been recognised by this national award.”
The School has taken part in Green Impact since the University of Kent joined the scheme in 2009/10. In its first year the School was awarded Silver Standard and won the Best Energy Saving Award and in 2010/11 it was awarded Silver Standard with Honours.