The University of Nottingham has been shortlisted in three categories in the EAUC Green Gown Awards.

The Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK.

There are 16 categories and this year the awards are especially looking for examples of the challenges and opportunities that have happened due to the pandemic.

Nottingham’s 2022 finalists and their categories are:

Building Back Better
The World’s First Micro Prospectus
By creating the world’s first micro prospectus, we’re saving more than 72 tonnes of paper and over 18,000kg of CO2. And because every tonne of paper uses 54,000 litres of water, we’re saving the equivalent amount to keep every student at our university hydrated for over six weeks too.

Research with Impact – Institution
The Trent Basin Community Energy Scheme
A pioneering community energy scheme in Nottingham, which enables residents to generate, store and use solar electricity. The scheme has seen 76 low-carbon homes being built on the banks of the River Trent as part of the re-development of a 250-acre brownfield site on the edge of the city centre.

Sustainability Champion – Staff
Lee Hibbett for his work on sustainable labs
Lee plays a key role in improving sustainability and reducing the impact of our labs on the environment. The Technical Sustainability Working Group grew out of Lee’s involvement in a project looking at how reduce the impact of plastic across the university. Thanks in part to his work, we now run freezers at – 70^oC  rather than – 80^oC (saving 25% in energy or £300 per year); support LEAF green lab accreditation, which promotes best practice; and are introducing chiller units and waterless condensers, which respectively cut energy use and save around 1.2m litres of water a year.

More information on all finalists can be found here.

The winners will be announced at the  EAUC Annual Conference on Tuesday 8 November 2022, at Loughborough University.