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Environmental Sustainability

Returning to campus sustainably

Welcome back!

The University of Warwick – working in partnership with students and staff – has an ambitious vision to achieve Net Zero by 2030. Climate change continues to have a major impact on our world, and every individual will play their part in enacting changes to allow us to get there.

As the new academic year begins, it is a great opportunity to reassess our actions both as a university and as individuals as we seek to allow us to live more sustainable lives, together. For more information on what the University of Warwick is doing to achieve Net Zero, visit our Way to Sustainable campaign page.

As individuals – whether students, staff, or visitors – our day-to-day habits can have a real impact on emissions and the fight against climate change. Whether this is travelling more sustainably, turning off lights, using less water, or eating less meat, there are things we can all do in our daily lives to reduce emissions.

At the University of Warwick, we have developed resources, apps, and guides to empower you to take simple steps to dramatically reduce your own C02 footprint and that of our own.

So, what can I do?


Energy and water use

Wherever possible, work sustainably across the university – think smart and turn things off.

To reduce your energy use you can:

  • Turn off your electrical equipment whether that’s your laptop, your light or your lab equipment
  • Encourage others to turn things off and take responsibility for communal equipment and lighting if you can
  • Report issues with heating, lighting or dripping taps to the Estates Helpdesk.
  • Close windows and doors when you leave and at the end of the day, particularly as the weather gets colder.

These simple tasks will help us protect the environment by limiting our carbon emissions and it is the responsibility of all students and staff to limit our energy use.

Waste management

Unfortunately, waste is unavoidable but by minimising the waste we produce we can protect the environment by limiting the waste we send to landfill and the harmful emissions which come from disposal.

Consider the following on campus:

  • Minimise printing including for meetings and lectures. If needs be, print double sided
  • Use reusable bottles, mugs, and bags
  • List items which could be re-used on Warwick Swap
  • Opt for products with no or little packaging, or at least packaging that can be recycled
  • Use the campus recycling bins wherever possible
  • Learn more about food waste here.

If you are unsure about what can be recycled, you can visit the recycling webpages or contact wasteandrecycling@warwick.ac.uk for guidance.

Transport

Several alternatives to single use car occupancy have been launched over the past 18 months to help students, staff, and visitors travel more sustainably both to and from campus.

West Midlands on Demand: a Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service that meets you wherever you are; it’s like a cross between a taxi and a bus. It operates in the surrounding areas of the University of Warwick, including Kenilworth, Warwick Parkway, University Hospital Coventry, Leamington Spa and the Wellesbourne campus. So, if you commute to campus from these areas but don't have a convenient bus stop near you, then the West Midlands on Demand bus can help get you there.

Tandem Taxi Service: This runs between Campus, Leamington and Wellesbourne campus seven days a week and at peak times journeys are every 20 minutes.

Subsidised bus service: The number 14 bus route connects campus to Coventry City Centre, Tile Hill Railway station, Eastern Green and Cannon Park shops. It is heavily subsidised by the University, so staff and students can use it for a fare of only £1 when showing a University ID card.

Discounted National Express bus passes: The University has been working with National Express so staff can now set up a direct debit with the bus company themselves to purchase a discounted monthly or annual pass, (10% for annual passes, 5% for monthly) and some discount rates have actually increased.

Voi e-scooters: Available at designated locations across campus with discounts available for staff and students.

West Midlands Cycle Hire: Coventry’s successful West Midlands Cycle Hire (WMCH) scheme has now been expanded to cover our campus and Coventry Railway Station. This sees an additional nine new docking stations made available to users. Seven of these are on the university site with the remaining two outside the Visitor Information Hub at Coventry Railway Station and at Starley Gardens on Cox Street.

Cycle To Work Scheme: The University of Warwick is dedicated to protecting the environment, reducing traffic congestion on campus and improving the health and wellbeing of staff. As a demonstrable commitment to these aims the University operates a Cycle to Work Scheme, whereby employees seeking to commute to work by bike can hire a bike (including e-bikes) (via salary sacrifice from your pay) over a 12-month period with the option to own it at the end of this time. This may result in savings depending upon your personal circumstances.

BetterPoints: Sign up now and you can earn rewards when you use either active or sustainable transport around campus. When you sign up to the Choose Your Way Warwick challenge on the BetterPoints app, the perks will come flooding in. Walking, cycling, or running around campus? You'll get rewards. Zipping about on an e-scooter? You'll get rewards. But it doesn't stop there, as members will also get opportunities for prize draws and surveys. Members will also get to experience new and exciting ways to travel to, and around, campus.