The Environment and AUB

This is AUB. A place to shape and build your work; to learn, share, provoke and collaborate.

The Environment and AUB

We're a creative community that's committed to and shares a passion for the disciplines of art, design, media and performance.

We recognise that our activities impact upon the environment of students, staff and visitors as well as the wider community through our infrastructure development, and day to day operations.

In providing a specialist high-quality education experience in art, design, media and performance, we're committed to focusing on embedding continuous environmental, sustainable, and social justice improvement. We aim to be a centre of excellence in environmental management through engagement with the higher education sector and wider community to promote environmental best practice.

North Building decarbonisation project

AUB has made a strategic commitment to meet a net zero 2030 target. A critical element of this commitment is replacing gas boilers that serve both North Building and the Library and future-proofing for potential North Light Studios development, with air source heat pumps (ASHPs).

The project aims to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) primarily by removing fossil fuels across the campus and providing cleaner and greener energy, which adheres to climate action and in turn aims to provide more sustainable cities, and communities.

The project will reduce our gas emissions (for North Building and the Library) by approximately 115 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent). There'll be increase in electricity use, but this is supplied through a green energy source with zero emissions.

Government public sector decarbonisation scheme funding has been successfully secured to help subsidise this project through Salix, the body that delivers the funding to the public sector. The funding is based on carbon savings from the project.

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and Construction has been appointed to deliver the project and are based in the Portakabin opposite North Light Studios, from the 4 March 2024 until approximately the end of August 2024.

Current Morgan Sindall staff:

Owen Bush – Site Manager
Simon Heard – Quantity Surveyor
Corey Hill – Graduate Quantity Surveyor

There'll be more presence on site from Morgan Sindall and a wider workforce as the project commences. Further updates and communication will follow as the project progresses.

For more information about the project please contact the AUB Estates and Campus Services Team at campusservicesteam@aub.ac.uk

View the North Building decarbonisation visualisation

Sustainability and Net Zero (SNZ) programme

AUB has pledged to be net zero by 2030 and is a signatory of the EAUC Race to Zero. The Sustainability and Net Zero (SNZ) programme of works (published in 2021) will enable AUB to meet its signatory net zero pledge; set non-emission targets; establish targets in relation to wider sustainability issues (such as supporting biodiversity); and will align with the University’s strategic vision and values. The SNZ will need to be considered and reflected throughout all AUB policies and procedures.

A Net Zero Task Force is established with the aim to set the initial programme, report on performance to Environment Committee, and make any necessary adjustments during the lifespan of the programme (and likely beyond).

Read our Sustainability and Net Zero programme

AUB's environment and sustainability commitments

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Our commitment

Our commitment to implementing best environmental practice is demonstrated through...

A commitment to the protection of the environment, including the prevention of pollution
A commitment to fulfil its compliance obligations
A commitment to continual improvement of the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance
A commitment to never investing in fossil fuels