Sustainability on the Belfield Campus
UCD has encountered unparalleled growth over the past ten years. In light of this, the need to manage the campus in a sustainable manner is crucial to all future developments in UCD. Thus, one of the most pertinent issues in the management of our vast array of resources is to ensure that UCD continues to enhance the quality of the Campus environment without impinging on the needs of future generations.
Places of learning at all levels should be exemplars of sustainable working and living.
Places of learning at all levels should be exemplars of sustainable working and living.
The successful transition to a sustainable campus involves all aspects of the university community to act in tandem. The interplay of such groups as the academic teaching and research activity, buildings and services, sports, recreation and the local community is essential in order to achieve a higher quality, more dynamic and sustainable campus.
The University has expanded the campus woodland area significantly since 1998, with the addition of over 25,000 trees including the oak pathway. This has brought the number of trees on the Belfield campus to in excess of 50,000. Awareness of sustainable forms of transport is promoted through the provision of improved pedestrian and cycling facilities, the establishment of a car share initiative, and ongoing collaboration with Dublin Bus and the local authorities.
UCD has taken the initiative to create an Energy Unit within the Buildings & Estates Department. The establishment of a University Energy Policy acts as a guideline for all new building development. Responsibilities also include but are not limited to the exploration of new ways of reducing energy demands of existing buildings through projects such as the introduction of efficient lighting systems, heat recovery, and high performance facades. Equally important, the University is keen to raise awareness about energy initiatives, a critical success factor in the development of a sustainable campus.
The University has reduced Belfield CO2 emissions by 9,000 tonnes per annum through the installation of a 1 MW Wood Pellet biomass boiler, the procurement of green energy supply, and the implementation of various energy efficient measures.
Currently, 30% of the Belfield total electricity requirement is produced on campus by utilising Combined Heat and Power (CHP). The remainder of the electricity is provided by Airtricity, of which 89% is renewable.
Over a 3 year period the Energy Unit has successfully implemented a trial initiative to reduce energy consumption in 10 University buildings by 11%. This initiative is now extending across all university buildings.
The possibilities of Deep Geothermal heating systems, which source natural energy from the ground, have become a very real opportunity for UCD. Geothermal energy offers a number of advantages over traditional fossil fuel based sources, primarily that the heat source requires no burning of fossil fuels with consequent elimination of C02 emissions. As a trial, the Energy Unit accommodation was designed with a simple geothermal heating system.
On another operational note, UCD’s mixed waste is processed by Greyhound Recycling and Recovery Ltd at their resource recovery facilities in Clondalkin. This waste undergoes manual and mechanical sorting and then segregation into the recoverable commodity streams of Paper/ Cardboard, Plastics, Glass, Construction and Demolition, and Timber and Organic waste.
In 2007, 2,675 tonnes of waste was collected from UCD, 83% of which was either recycled or used in the waste energy industry. The segregation of 30% of this waste occurs on the Belfield campus. In a further attempt to reduce the carbon footprint of the University, a new classification for waste has been initiated – namely a separate collection for Dry Waste and another for Wet Waste.
The above illustrates not only UCD’s pro-active role in light of energy and waste management, but also it’s commitment to the provision of an overall more sustainable campus.
