cgpp4 9 Cit - Summary

At a Glance
Cork Institute of Technology established

a Sustainable Campus Programme at its
Bishopstown campus. It is an integrated
programme involving all areas of
sustainability from energy and water
consumption to solid waste and
resource use, as well as environmental
awareness raising. The programme
involved baseline auditing, installation
of appropriate monitoring equipment,
prevention opportunity assessment,
options generation and projects
implementation and monitoring.
Some Key results
The programme is significantly
raising awareness on campus;
Solid waste generation was reduced
by 12% per student and recovery
rate was increased by 17%,
following the installation of a new
recycling system across campus;
Electricity kWh usage per student
was reduced by 5.5% despite the
increase in activity, facilities and
buildings on campus;
Water consumption decreased by
almost 4%;
CO2 emissions generated from
electricity
consumption
were
reduced from 314 kg per student to
122 kg per student;
Paper usage was reduced by 4.6%
per student
Combined total savings of 458,582
since beginning of project.
Two Green Hospitality Awards
These
reductions
have
obvious
environmental and economic benefits
for the Institution and the local
community.
2008-CP-9-S2
CITs Sustainable Campus

Programme
It is an integrated programme involving

all areas of environmental management
from energy and water consumption to
solid waste and resource use, as well as
awareness raising. This successful
programme has a high level of
replicability, not just across all other
third-level Institutions, but all public
sector organisations.
Outcomes
Cork Institute of Technology

Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork
With over 12,000 registered students
and 1,544 staff, Cork Institute of
Technology (CIT) caters for both full and
part-time study as well as many evening
and weekend courses. CIT has expanded
rapidly over recent years, and now
encompasses a mix of new and older
buildings.
Aims of this project
The programme aims to significantly
raise environmental awareness in the
Institute among staff and students,
which will lead to long term
sustainability
on
campus.
The
programme aims to identify and
implement improvement options to
reduce energy, water, solid waste and
resource use at the campus, and to
disseminate the cleaner greener
production message to the broad
audience of staff and students.
Implementing a sustainable campus
programme will help ensure that long
term reductions result, leading to
continual improvement and sustainable
development.
Project Description
Since 2009 Cork Institute of Technology
has established a Sustainable Campus
Programme at its Bishopstown campus.
The programme is significantly raising

awareness on campus among the staff
and student body. These reductions
have obvious environmental and
economic benefits for the Institution
and the local community. The College
Canteen became the first third-level
canteen in Ireland to receive the Green
Hospitality Award and the Department
of Tourism & Hospitality received the
Gold level award. It is hoped that
Sustainability will be built into the daily
lives of students and staff at CIT. Total
economic savings of 458,582 (of which
353,885 were from more favourable
electricity rates from a new supplier)
and projected savings of 389,682 for
2011. The project will continue at CIT
after the funding from the EPAs CGPP
has ceased.
Picture1. The Department of Tourism &

Hospitality Studies receives the Gold
level Green Hospitality Award at the
2010 presentations held in Hayfield
Manor, Cork.
Recognition for the programme

Some of the key achievements of the
Sustainable Campus Programme in CIT
included the following:
A guide book How to Green Your Campus or

Workplace - A Step by Step Guide
(http://www.greencampuscit.ie/index.php?me
nu=&id=9&nid=86) was produced based on
the results of the programme and
disseminated widely across other third level
institutions, local authorities and other public
sector organisations.
Savings made
Implementation of separate food
waste bins well in advance of the
Food Waste Regulations (diverting 39
tonnes of food waste from landfill in
2010);
Reduction of solid waste by almost
8% despite the increase in student
numbers by 5%;
Increased recyclable recovery rate by
17%;
Campus BER rating improved by a full
grade from a D1 in 2009 to C1 in
2010;
A reduction of 1293 t CO2 emissions
(54%) to the atmosphere compared
to the previous year
Electricity bills were significantly
reduced (353,885)*
*Much of these savings were made by
switching to a different supplier with cheaper
rates.
Actions to produce savings
Many old inefficient lights were
replaced in corridors with energy
efficient fittings and sensors installed;
Student Centre lighting replaced 44 x
400W metal halide fittings with 22 x
90W and 22 x 30W frontline LED
fittings (saving 15,040 annually);
63 timers were fitted to heaters,
extraction and light fittings;
100 LED flood lights (90W) replaced the
old 400W flood lights around the campus;
CITs gas bills reduced by 36% with a
financial saving of 4624 in the first 3
months
Water flow rates in one building were
reduced by 80%
Achieving two Green Hospitality

Awards
Final stages in the Sustainable Energy
Awards 2010
Shortlisted for the Green Awards
2011
Green Campus CIT featured on the
RTE Eco-Eye.
Other activities
Waste awareness day was held;

Zero waste meal was prepared by the
students as part of the European
Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR)
events reducing waste generated by
35% of the industry norm;
Developing a new uniform recycling
system across campus;
Installation of an electronic vehicle
point on campus (1st in an Irish third
level organisation)
Academic activities
Introduction of a new sustainability

module for fourth year students at
CIT in Environmental Management.
Lessons
The programme has replicability, not just
across all other third level Institutions, but
all public sector organisations. Improving
sustainability of all aspects of our lives,
not
just
conventional
production
processes is important. All campuses
should endeavour to operate in the most
sustainable fashion possible and have the
opportunity to promulgate the message
widely.
Gaining support and commitment are the
first steps to a successful Sustainable
Campus Programme. Buy in from top
management is hugely important for a
successful programme. A sustainable
campus programme is an integrated
programme combining the involvement
and education of the student and staff
body to help reduce the consumption of
resources on campus.
More Information
For more information on this project
please contact:
Mary Purcell
Telephone: 353 (21) 4326100
Email: Mary.Purcell@cit.ie
The Cleaner Greener Production

Programme (CGPP) of the EPA is funded
under the National Development Plan 20072013. The CGPP was launched in 2001 as a
grant scheme to fund Irish organisations to
implement cleaner greener practices while
achieving significant cost savings.
Cleaner Greener Production is the
application of integrated preventive
environmental strategies to processes,
products and services to increase overall
efficiency and reduce risks to humans and
the environment.
Production processes: conserving raw
materials and energy, eliminating toxic
raw materials, and reducing the quantity
and toxicity of all emissions and wastes
Products: reducing negative impacts along
the life cycle of a product, from raw
materials extraction to its ultimate
disposal.
Services: incorporating environmental
concerns into designing and delivering
services.
The programme aims are focussed on
avoiding and preventing adverse
environmental impact rather than treating
or cleaning up afterwards. This approach
brings better economic and environmental
efficiency.
The CGPP is funded by the EPA STRIVE and
NWPP programmes this may be changed to
Be Green
Additional case studies from companies that
participated in CGPP are available on our
website (www.cleanerproduction.ie),
including:
A full technical report for each project
Programme brochures, summarising all
projects funded under CGPP
More information on CGPP is available from
the EPA:
Lisa Sheils
Environmental Protection Agency,
Richview, Clonskeagh,
Dublin 14, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 2680100
http://www.epa.ie/researchandeducation/research

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At a Glance

Cork Institute of Technology established

CITs Sustainable Campus

It is an integrated programme involving

Cork Institute of Technology

The programme is significantly raising

Picture1. The Department of Tourism &

Recognition for the programme

A guide book How to Green Your Campus or

Achieving two Green Hospitality

Waste awareness day was held;

Introduction of a new sustainability

The Cleaner Greener Production

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