Sustainable Place
How we decarbonise our estate and make sure our campuses are fit for purpose of a sustainable, modern University
Estate decarbonisation
While the University is currently engaged in a variety of decarbonisation projects, we are working on formalising our approach in an Estate Decarbonisation Policy and Plan (EDP). The purpose of the EDP is to provide an overview of how UEL intends to replace fossil-fuel reliant systems with appropriate low-carbon alternatives in line with the guidelines of the Low Carbon Skills Fund and other best-practice guidelines. The fundamental aspects of this plan are:
- Review of current energy consumption, energy intensity, building fabric, building use, hot water, heating and ventilation systems
- Collation of recently completed and ongoing energy reduction measures
- Review of the estates and capital development strategies to ensure that all recommended decarbonisation projects are aligned with these strategies and plans
- Recommended building-level and campus-level decarbonisation and associated projects.
- Our Carbon Sequestration Policy (in provides a framework by which we will deal with our residual carbon emissions once all good faith efforts have been made to reduce our carbon emissions as much as possible through efficiencies and behaviour change engagement.
Connected Campus
Connected Campus is UEL’s £20M+ investment programme to improve our three campuses by creating more pioneering, vibrant and welcoming spaces. Sustainability is at the heart of the ethos of the programme, and the Sustainability Team works with our UEL Projects and Estates Development Team to embed sustainability into all projects.
Our current focus is on the Stratford Redevelopment project, which will see several new buildings constructed on UEL’s Stratford Campus, both academic and residential. This is an exciting opportunity to construct to Net Zero standards and be both innovative and creative when thinking about how Universities can align new buildings with their existing net zero and sustainability goals.
Siemens partnership
UEL’s partnership with Siemens has recently driven energy efficiency initiatives on campus such as the installation of LED lighting across all campuses, as well as solar panels and EV car chargers.
Scope 3 emissions
The Sustainability Team is committed to continual understanding and measurement of our scope 3 carbon emissions, which make up the majority of UEL’s overall carbon emissions. You can learn more about our currently benchmarked scope 3 emissions in our most recent annual sustainability report.
Waste reduction
The Sustainability Team works closely with our UEL Facilities Team, who are responsible for waste management on campus. Together, we have collaborated on initiatives designed to increase awareness of proper waste disposal on campus, including re-designing our recycling and general waste bin labels, placing signage in all student residence kitchens, trialling food waste bins in student and staff kitchens.
Sustainable travel
Our Sustainable Travel Policy is designed to improve the travel behaviours of the University of East London, reduce the need for travel, and encourage staff, students, and visitors to choose more sustainable travel modes. The policy aims to encourage more active, healthy and environmentally friendly travel decisions, and to assist the surrounding communities by reducing traffic congestion and the associated harmful effects on the environment from single car usage and higher carbon-emitting modes of travel.
The Sustainability Team is currently working on expanding our policy into a detailed Travel Plan for both Docklands and Stratford campuses.
Biodiversity
UEL is committed to not just maintaining the status quo when it comes to development and biodiversity, but to biodiversity net gain, or delivering measurable improvements for biodiversity by creating or enhancing habitats in association with development. Any development projects must deliver on biodiversity net gain to be considered by our Projects and Estates Development Team.
Additionally, the Sustainability Team is working with UEL’s Sustainability Research Institute to update the University’s Biodiversity Action Plan, making full use of the in-house knowledge and expertise of our SRI team.
Construction and refurbishment
Sustainable Construction and Refurbishment Policy coming soon.
