Sustainability

College employed a Sustainability co-ordinator Peter Nitsche-Whitfield (found at sustainability@lincoln.ox.ac.uk) to help with making the infrastructure and general workings of college more sustainable. He has worked closely with the JCR Environment and Ethics Rep.

Moves were made to improve recycling rates with the Recycling Scheme run by the JCR and MCR student reps – details found in Lincoln above. There have been discussions as to improving its effectiveness and aims between the Student Reps and leadership in college. This work is still undergoing. Learn more about the scheme here.

KeepCups, were made available to JCR members at a discount (£8) through cooperation between the Development office and JCR rep. This was done in an attempt to reduce wastage with the many coffee cups consumed by students. These were a great success with only a couple left by the final term of this academic year.

An energy audit was organised for college that provided valuable data informing plans for the future. Additionally, EcoSync (ecosync.energy) technology was installed in Lincoln House and Staircase 15 to reduce energy consumption on individual levels and enabling a central system to ensure empty rooms are not being unnecessarily heated. Feedback is being sought after from the students in order to make sure College continues to recognise the impact on student lives, especially if there are problems.

Lincoln’s submission for the National Green Impact Scheme (greenimpact.nus.org.uk) has been worked through by the JCR E&E Rep, Sustainability Co-Ordinator, Project Assistant, and Head Gardener. This not only puts college in the running for an award but also structures future progress and generates ideas and actions to improve engagement, sustainability, and biodiversity. Last year, Lincoln was awarded with a Silver.