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John Newton

John Newton is Assistant Director of Finance for the Finance Division. Here he describes why the University decides to set up the Eco Champion Network, and his role in encouraging staff and students to become carbon cutters.

John Newton, Eco Champion for Finance and Purchasing

I am the Eco Champion for Finance and Purchasing for floors eight and nine of Mackenzie House.

Cardiff University has been involved with initiatives to reduce energy and water for many years and has helped good practice in this area over the period. The decision to develop a network of Eco Champions stemmed from Cardiff’s involvement in the Carbon Trust’s Higher Education Carbon Management Programme which took place over 2006-2007. This also led to the launch of the University’s Energy, Water and Waste policy in October 2007.

We maintain our close contact with the Trust via my role as the University’s representative on seminars and networking events and as the University’s Carbon Reduction Project Leader. As part of this overall role, I also co-ordinate the University’s Eco Champion network which has regular meetings throughout the year with varied speakers.

I have found staff and students throughout the university interested in environmental issues. In the current economic climate, saving energy helps the University financially and contributes towards its drive for sustainable development. Since the Eco Champion network commenced, Cardiff has made a significant contribution towards reducing its carbon footprint. As Eco Champion for Finance and Purchasing, I need to work closely with the Information Services Division, the Estates Division and other support divisions to ensure we are up to date in the way we are able to cut back on carbon emissions.

The sort of things we have done include:

  • Switching off lighting when no one is in the office
  • Switching off PCs, printers, copiers, fans, projectors and photocopiers after use
  • Not using portable heaters
  • Using environmentally-friendly lighting
  • Using the recycling bins and ensuring we keep to the guidance issued by Estates
  • Recycling used toner and ink-jet cartridges
  • Collecting used postage stamps for charity
  • Using used paper for scrap
  • Ensuring recycling and energy-saving posters are displayed prominently. This allows colleagues to note that leaving lighting on in the office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1,000 cups of tea; and switching off all non-essential equipment in an office overnight saves enough energy to run a small car for 100 miles.
  • Ensuring goods and services are procured in the best environmentally friendly way-where appropriate

The challenges faced by the University in meeting sustainability needs require Cardiff to meet the Carbon Reduction Commitment and minimise purchase of carbon allowances from April 2011.

With increasing activity, this will be difficult but must be done. A sustained drive to save even more energy, water and waste will start early in 2010.