The Wee Green Guide
Towards eco-friendly student living
Student Apartments Wee Green Guide 2015-2016 copyright Š2015 GUEST
Student Apartments 89 Gibson Street Glasgow G12 8LD Tel: 0141 330 6182 E-mail: studentapartments@glasgow.ac.uk
GUEST Glasgow University Evironmental Sustainability Team E-mail: estates-guest@glasgow.ac.uk
Illustrations provided by GUEST.
Photos on pages 20, 21, 22, 23 and 26 courtesy of Sequoia Hearne.
Foreword Welcome to Student Apartments!
Foreword.................................. 1 What is GUEST?...................... 2
We would like to bring to your attention several ways you can be more environmentally friendly whilst living here. This booklet contains advice on energy saving, waste reduction and recycling. You will also find information on transport methods to reduce your carbon footprint, healthy and sustainable food as well as tips for getting more involved with the local community.
Energy Conservation ............... 4 Car-Share & Public Transport ... 6 Cycling .................................... 8 Cycling Maps .......................... 10 Recycling Facilities ..................12 Avoiding Waste & Upcycling .....15 Food and Nutrition ................... 19 Events and Activities ............. 22
Additional Resources ............. 25 The recommendations in this guide are intended to help you think about how doing things a little differently and adjusting our behaviours in daily life can reduce our impact on the environment.
The Green Guide has been written in collaboration with GUEST.
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What is GUEST?
GUEST has seven branches: Waste Reduction Energy Sustainable Food Biodiversity Sustainable Transport Student Engagement Communications
Glasgow University Environmemtal Sustainability Team are a team of part time staff Want to get involved? We will be working to improve the environHIRING in September and lookmental practice of the university. ing for volunteers throughout the We focus on: year. •
Events and campaigns to promote sustainability on campus.
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Influencing University policy to make it more environmentally friendly.
• Providing services to make sustainable living easy!
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Follow us on Facebook: GUEST - Glasgow University Environmental Sustainability Team Twitter: glauniest Instagram: glauniest. Got ideas, interested in learning more or seen something you think we should now about? Get in touch: estates-guest@glasgow. ac.uk
Look Out For: Our Freshers Week line up!
An alternative option for Freshers and returning students. GUEST will be running several daytime events with a sustainability theme! Full details available on the GUEST Facebook page.
The Bike Hub
A free, weekly DIY bike repair workshop run by our Sustainable Transport branch.
Our Pop-Up Eco Hub!
We are very excited about our brand new Cargo Bike and will be using it to set up popup swap shops, food sharing and more in different locations on campus throughout the year. Scanned by CamScanner
Biodiversity Work Sessions
Get outside with our Biodiversity branch in their regular work sessions in GUEST’s Wildlife Garden and Community Gardens. We even have bees!
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GUEST Refreshers Week
We will be starting the second semester with our alternative Refreshers week. Previous events included balls and eco-fairs! Scanned by CamScanner
Go GREEN WEEK
The highlight of the GUEST callender. In February we will be teaming up with environmental groups across the city in a big celebration of all things sustainable! 3
Energy Conservation A few easy changes to your daily habits can help keep your room or flat energy efficient.
Living & Study Areas Turn entertainment equipment off when not is use! Most appliances still use several watts while in stand-by. Don’t leave your phone charger or hair appliances in the electrical socket when not in use - the latter is also a fire hazard!
We have compiled a list of small but smart changes you can make to your daily habits and routine to lower your energy consumption:
Switch off your computer and any peripheral devices, such as printers and scanner, overnight.
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Make a Do-It-Yourself Draft Excluder! GUEST Promoters frequently hold workshops aimed to help you save energy and resources. Keep an eye out on our social media for details!
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General Areas Turn off lights when leaving a room or not in use. Remember common rooms, kitchens and hallways!
Cook in batches: cook as much as possible in the oven in one go to use all the space and heat produced. Freeze the leftovers!
Use the radiator thermostat to avoid unnecessary heating.
Defrost food in the fridge the night before; this can halve cooking time.
Use the weather! In winter, open curtains during the day to let the sun warm your flat and close curtains at night to retain heat. In late spring or summer, close curtains during the day to keep your flat cool.
Keep the oven closed: every time the door is opened it loses heat and requires more energy to get the temperature up again. Don’t overfill the kettle!
Bathroom
Make sure that your curtains don’t block your radiators.
Take short showers.
Only wash clothes in full loads.
Don’t let the tap run while brushing your teeth.
Air dry clothes if possible.
Kitchen Keep your refrigerator and your freezer stocked: it takes more energy to cool an empty one. Cut food into smaller pieces to reduce cooking time. Use lids on pans to retain heat.
Open the windows and close the kitchen door when cooking, especially if you are producing a lot of steam or smoke. A false fire alarm and a visit from the firefighters will not only waste a lot more fuel and energy, but it might also get you fined and keep the firefighters from attending a real emergency!
If you see any dripping taps or radiators, or any other piece of furniture or equipment that needs repairing, fill in and submit a maintenance report. The online form can be found here: www.gla.ac.uk/services/ residentialservices/maintenancereporting/studentapartments
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Car-share and Public Transport Driving to university or work might seem convenient, but it does very little in terms of a sustainable future and your physical health. Whether you decide to leave your car at home and put your bicycle back on the road, swap to public transport or simply go for a healthy walk, there are various ways in which we can all improve our travel arrangements to help the environment and our personal wellbeing. The lack of parking spaces on campus and high cost of fuel makes driving a poor option for students.
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Car-Sharing Scanned by CamScanner
A great way to socialise, meet new people or spend time with friends and colleagues is car pooling. Not only does it save on the fuel bills (always a plus), but cuts down on your carbon footprint too. We recommend these resources if you’re interested: SPT Liftshare • spt.liftshare.com GumTree Journey Share • www.gumtree.com/ridesharecar-pooling Glasgow Uni Journey Share • www.gla.ac.uk/services/estates/ sustainability/travel/cartravel/ universityjourneyshare Carpooling • www.carpooling.co.uk Blablacar • www.blablacar.com
Public Transport Glasgow: Buses run every 10 minutes all over the city and are relatively cheap compared to driving. Remember: most buses in Glasgow only take coins and do not give change! The Subway is a quick way to get around. Closest to you is Hillhead Station, on Byres Road, or Kelvinhall Station, on Dumbarton Road. The Subway runs every few minutes and it can get you to most central locations around Glasgow: www.spt. co.uk/subway
Alternative Forms of Transport Any form of transport that is energetic, low-cost and ‘manual’ is excellent for ourselves and our environment. Scooters, skateboards and longboards provide a great alternative method of getting around, while also exercising. Just make sure to respect traffic rules and wear safety gear if you feel the need to.
Scotland: The train is efficient and can be affordable with a student rail card (apply for at travel centres around Glasgow). Buses are the most environmentally efficient form of transport and usually the cheapest. Try National Express and Megabus. Intercity coaches are only £2 in November and February!
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Cycling Cycling can make significant changes to the environment and your personal wellbeing. A classic win-win situation! You can lock your bike up at the Library or Stevenson Sports Building nearby.
run a weekly Bike Hub, a free, weekly workshop where you can learn how to fix your own bike!
Please note that keeping bikes in your flat or anywhere they may block stairwells or emergency exits is not allowed. Scanned by CamScanner
GUEST’s Sustainable Transport branch has provided a map for the best cycling routes from the University to the City Centre (see pages 16-17). They also
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Cycling Resources Staff and students at the University of Glasgow can subscribe to Nextbike and get the first 30 minutes of each ride FREE. You can find out more about the tariff and the locations of these bike stands on www. nextbike.co.uk/en/glasgow. Join the Glasgow University Bicycle Users Group. They host fun events, workshops and safety advice sessions, as well as regular cycling trips for members of all ages and abilities. You can get in touch using the following links: www.facebook.com/ GlasgowUniBUG or www.scotbug.com/GlasgowUniversity.
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Cycling Community If you’re afraid of cycling alone on the roads, Glasgow has its own Critical Mass group. They meet at 5.30 PM at George Square on the last Friday of every month, enabling cyclists to cycle on roads in a safe group setting. Cycle Safety Increase your visibility by avoiding dark clothing, wearing high visibility ankle and armbands or reflective vests and ensuring that your lights are working. Cycling safety gear can also be handed out by GUEST for free, while the University can provide you with free bike-marking in case your bike gets stolen. Route Planning Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde’s Go Bike! campaign and the Sustrans provide good maps for cyclists (www.gobike.org), together with useful cycle tips for safety on the road and bike etiquette. Cyclists should ensure that they are obeying all road rules and for their own safety, reflective vests, helmets and functioning bicycle lights are advised to enhance visibility in the dark or in poor weather. Finding a Bike Instead of buying a new bicycle, you could get a second hand one. Affordable used bicycles can be found at the Glasgow Bike Station, located in Finnieston. They also provide servicing, repairs and fix your own bike sessions: www.thebikestation.org.uk/glasgow
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Recycling Facilities By turning recycling into your second nature, you’re giving nature a second chance! WHY
SHOULD RECYCLE?
YOU
Vast amounts of energy and natural resources are being used to make products from raw materials. Most of these products will end up in landfill sites, where they release harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses. By recycling and upcycling you help preserve natural resources for future generations, reduce the amount of energy consumed by the manufacturing industry and help avoid the pollution caused by waste.
In Student Appartments Each kitchen should be equipped with: • a recycling bin for mixed dry recycling • a bin for general waste disposal Bins should be clearly labelled. Blue bins (for co-mingling recycling) are located in the back courts of our buildings alongside bins for regular waste. These are provided for you to recycle: newspapers magazines cardboard paper tins cans plastic bottles other types of mixed plastic You’ll find what can be recycled on the front of the blue bins, under the lid. You can recycle glass bottles and jars too - look out for the green or purple bins located in the surrounding streets near your building.
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NEW! Food Recycling at Lister House Glasgow City Council is in the Q: Why should I use the food process of rolling out a food waste service? waste service across Glasgow. A: Diverting food waste from The following food waste will be landfill means it can be recycled collected; and turned into valuable resourc• Dairy es such as agricultural fertilisers • Meat and bones and energy. • Fruit • Vegetables Q: Why should we stop sending • Bread, cakes and pastries food waste to landfill? • Rice and pasta • Fish A: Landfilling food waste is envi• Tea bags and coffee ronmentally unfriendly and an grounds expensive way to dispose of waste. When food waste breaks To recycle your food waste please down in landfill it gives off methuse the indoor food waste cad- ane gas, which contributes to clidies provided: mate change and is a waste of a valuable product that can be re- Make sure there is a composta- cycled. ble liner in your indoor grey food caddy. Q: What if I don’t produce a lot of food waste? - Put your food waste in the caddy. A: Everyone has food waste – whether it is unavoidable food - When the liner is almost full, tie waste such as tea bags, bones, it and remove it to the large grey eggshells or leftovers, even small food waste bin located in the amounts make a difference when back courts. they are recycled. 13
On Campus Bins on campus are clearly marked with LIME GREEN for DRY MIXED RECYCLING, BOTTLE GREEN for FOOD WASTE and BLACK for GENERAL WASTE.
Top Recycling Tips •
Wash & Squash items before recycling them to optimise the process.
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Don’t worry about the labels and lids of glass jars or bottles these are removed mechanically during the recycling process.
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Remove the caps and lids of plastic containers. These are
If you are still unsure, most of often made of a different type these bins come with detailed of plastic than the bottle and will instructions. Please try to adhere contaminate the process. to these guidelines as much as • Always remove paper clips, possible. staples, plastic envelope windows, tape and labels!
Within classrooms and lecture halls, there are mixed recycling • Remove unclean sections of posts available (look for the white greasy items such as a pizza cardboard bins). boxes before recycling them. Bins to dispose of excess liquid in bottles or coffee cups are now provided in many locations on campus. Please use these so that your left over coffee does not contaminate the rest of the load! Both unions have WEEE points for recycling electrical items!
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Never throw batteries in the general waste or recycling bins! Instead, look out for the special collection points which are usually located in supermarkets.
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Recycle plastic bags at special collection points located in shops and supermarkets; avoid ever throwing them in the recycling bins as they will contaminate their full contents.
Avoiding Waste & Upcycling With just a bit of inventiveness, you can learn to turn trash into treasure. Try... •
Packing your own lunch in a reusable container.
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Washing & reusing ziplock bags.
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Use old jars, tins and pots as glasses, spice holders and for storing dried food.
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Use all of the vegetable to avoid food waste!
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Cook and freeze extra food to avoid throwing it away!
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Switching to reusable water bottles and coffee mugs.
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Repairing things that break and mending your clothes instead of buying new ones.
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Turning egg cartons into biodegradable seed starters.
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Reusing envelopes by placing a label over the address.
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Reusing old magazines as wrapping paper.
Avoid... •
Takeaways and pre-packed meals – cook your own instead Scanned by CamScanner and save on packaging.
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Buying new carrier bags each time – carry some tote bags or bags for life with you.
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Disposable plates and cutlery whenever possible.
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Paper towels by cutting up old clothes to be used as rags.
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Ethical Shopping Buy... •
Loose fruit and veg.
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In bulk and refill where possible.
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Rechargeable batteries.
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Second hand: clothes, shoes, kitchenware, bikes, electrical equipment, phones, tools, bags etc.
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Items that will last so that you don’t have to keep buying more! Scanned by CamScanner
There is a wealth of second hand shops around the West End, ranging from bargain charity shops to fashinable vintage stores. Explore Ruthven Lane, Byres Road and Great Western Road to find some amazing bargains. Keep an eye out for second hand fairs such as the Glasgow Vintage Kilo Sale! Gumtree, FreeCycle and Student Voice are excellent services for exchanging selling and buying second hand goods of all kinds. Check out the Glasgow University ‘Free and For Sale’ Facebook group!
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Please donate any unwanted goods that are still in good condition! You will receive British Heart Foundation (BHF) donation bags a few weeks before you leave the accommodation. During the 2014/15 academic year, University of Glasgow residents donated a total of 903 bags, with an estimated resale value of £12,642.This was the second time University of Glasgow has taken part in the BHF ‘Moving On’ campaign and had great success. Between the residences, students donated bags of clothes, books, CDs and DVDs. Their efforts raised money for the charity which pioneers research into heart disease. At the Student Apartments Office you can also recycle the following items, with all proceeds going to charity: • Stamps • Old or foreign coins • Printer Cartridges
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If you can think of any other recycling we can offer, please let us know at reception. 18
Food & Nutrition Always on the go and constantly studying good nutrition is surely at the foundations of a happy student life. The food we eat affects our health and our planet and it can feel difficult to eat in a way that is good both for our body and the environment, especially when on a student budget. The current system of food production is, unfortunately, not a sustainable one and it is a massive contributor to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, droughts and loss of biodiversity. The methods of production, preparation, packaging, storage and transport are complex issues to keep in mind when purchasing our food. On the bright side, food that is good for the planet is also good for you. There is a myth that being a student is a good excuse for poor dietary choices, but we would like to dispel that myth.
Being a student is strenuous at times, and maintaining healthy eating habits is the perfect way to ensure you have the energy to keep up with all of your academic, social and personal commitments.
If you feel yourself moving towards, or have a history of food related anxiety or eating disorders, remember there are organisations on campus there to help with this, such as the Starfish Group. For more information get in touch with the GUSA Welfare Convenor: gusa-welfare@gla.ac.uk or check this link: www.nbp-eating-disorders.co.uk.
If you do decide to rethink your diet in order to support a more sustainable agricultural system, keep in mind that food is also an emotional matter and that gradually and steadily adopting changes is best: your dietary choices should fit your routine and make you feel good about yourself in order to work. 19
Tips for a Sustainable Diet Buy...
Avoid...
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Unprocessed ingredients and cook them yourself.
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In bulk to minimise packaging.
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Organic if possible: pesticides are damaging to your
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health and the ecosystem, so it’s best to avoid them. Food in season: it’s fresher, tastier, and much cheaper.
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Fresh food that has travelled the world to reach you.
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Fish from the Marine Stewardship Council’s ‘fish to avoid’ list (available at (www.msc.org).
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Meat that is too cheap to be true.
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Eggs from caged hens.
Try... •
Eating less processed foods: avoid frozen foods, ready meals and items with way too many ingredients.
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Reducing the amount of meat and dairy produce in your diet: Try eating vegetarian/vegan meals for a few days a week.
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Choose local products over imported ones to reduce food-miles and support local farmers.
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Growing some food yourself: herbs, carrots, potatoes and some salads can be grown indoors. Join a community garden (see page 23)!
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Locally Sourced and Sustainable Food The West-End of Glasgow is awash with local independent businesses that support sustainable and local produce.
Roots and Fruits have shops on Great Western Road near the Kelvinbridge Subway Station and on Argyle Street in Finnieston, and is a great place to start. Finnieston is also full of great shops with cheap vegetables, shopping here will save you money whilst supporting independent retailers. You can also opt for one of the small businesses that currently deliver organic-veg boxes around Glasgow, such as such as The Little Veg Company, Mollinsburn Organic and Grow Wild. Glasgow University food co-op (www.glasgowunifoodcoop.com) gives students access to cheap, organic vegetable bags from a local farm, and whole foods from Glasgow based Green City (more details on page 24). Food Sharing Glasgow distributes surplus food to students allowing you to save waste and save money! (See page 24) There is a farmers market with local producers on Saturdays, from 10am to 2pm, alternating between Mansfield Park in Partick, and Queens Park in the Southside every other week.
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Events & Activities Interested in sustainability? Get involved in one of the many environmental groups in Glasgow and take advantage of all the amazing initiatives in this vibrant city. Wildlife Garden The green space behind the Queen Margaret Union that makes up the Wildlife Garden provides a haven for wildlife in the West End, as well as a quiet retreat for people to escape all the hustle and bustle. www.facebook.com/wildlifegardeners Woodlands and Willowbank Community Gardens Both of these gardens are run by groups of local people who work together to produce food, green spaces and a sense of community. Check their websites and facebook pages for information on their regular work sessions. guwillowbankgarden.blogspot.co.uk http://www.woodlandscommunitygarden.org.uk/ Glasgow Exploration Society The University of Glasgow Exploration Society has been helping teams of undergraduate students explore the world on zoological and geographical expeditions for many years. Membership is ÂŁ3.50 per year for students and ÂŁ6 for staff. glasgowexsoc.org.uk
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GUCA (Climate Action Society) GUCA is a society of students dedicated to educating and making progress in tackling the issues of climate change, global warming and environmental conservation, through a myriad of fun events and direct action. They are the ones responsible for the incredibly successful divestment campaign which convinced the University of Glasgow Court to divest from Fossil Fuels! gucasociety.blogspot.co.uk Oxfam Glasgow University Oxfam is a global movement of people who share the belief that, in a world rich in resources, poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice which can, and must, be overcome. Oxfam GU is a student society that aims to raise awareness of the fight against poverty and climate change. twitter.com/oxfamgu Facebook: Oxfam Glasgow University (GU)
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The Food Co-op The Food Co-op buy food in bulk and split it between their members, allowing students to get discount bulkbuy prices on sustainable and healthy food: imagine all those nuts and dried fruit for non-extortionate prices! They also do organic vegetable bags, fruit bags and organic eggs. All delivered to their very own space, located on
the ground floor of the QMU. You can keep updated and register on their website: www.glasgowunifoodcoop.com Facebook: Glasgow Uni Food Co-op Food Sharing Glasgow Food Sharing is a global network of people aiming to reduce food waste. Food Sharing Glasgow collects surplus food from local shops and distributes this to students for free! They have also held food waste meals, workshops and film screenings. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/foodsharingglasgow/
GUEST! The Glasgow University Environmental Sustainability Team run regular events, workshops, film screenings, swap shops, community meals and consultations with students. Follow our social media (https://www. facebook.com/UofGEnviroSustain) for updates on upcoming events, our blog for information on what we’ve done in the past (https://glasgowuniest. wordpress.com/) and share your ideas, concerns and questions with us by emailing estates-guest@glasgow.ac.uk!
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Additional Groups and Resources GOOD Garden Project A GUEST initative to engage staff, students and the local community in growing their own food. https://www.facebook.com/The-GOODGarden-Project-1526141501035204/ Glasgow University Bee Keeping Society Promotes learning and participation in beekeeping activities. Maintains two hives! https://www.facebook.com/GUBeekeepingSociety/ Waste Not Want Kinning Park Complex Clothes swaps, upcycling, gardening, community meals and workshops. http://www.kinningparkcomplex.org/ waste-not-want/ The Real Junk Food Project https://www.facebook.com/TRJFPGlasgow/ Climate Action Scotland www.climateactionscotland.wordpress. com Urban Roots Community led environmental projects in the South Side. http://www.urbanroots.org.uk/
Stop Climate Chaos Coalition of organisations working together against climate change. http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/ UofG Carbon Management Plan gla.ac.uk/media/media_192265_en.pdf UofGSave It Campaign gla.ac.uk/about/values/environment/ saveit Ethical Consumer Website that provides the tools and resources you need to make ethical choices simple, informed and effective. www.ethicalconsumer.org Uni-Cycle Free services and support for students from the Bike Station. http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/glasgow/whats-going/pro/uni-cycle/ RSPB Glasgow http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow/ Action Hillhead https://www.facebook.com/actionhillhead GOW Community http://gowcommunity.org.uk/ Plastic Free July http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/
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WWF footprint calculator footprint.wwf.org.uk The 10:10 campaign Advice and inspiration for a low-carbon life www.1010global.org/uk Centre for Alternative Energy Tips for Energy Conservation info.cat.org.uk/energy-conservation Recycle for Scotland www.recycleforscotland.com Glasgow Freecycle http://my.freecycle.org Recycle Now Recyclability guide what can and can’t be recycled. www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with Word Power Books www.word-power.co.uk Greener Scotland Online Seasonal Foods Calendar: www.greenerscotland.org/eat-greeneravoid-waste/season-food-calendar Love Food Hate Waste http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ DoNation https://www.wearedonation.com/ Keep Scotland Beautiful www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org
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Lexicon of Sustainability The Lexicon of Sustainability™ is a crowd-sourced project, which relies on people around the world, to gather the ideas we need to build a sustainable future. www.lexiconofsustainability.com My Plastic Free Life Author Beth Terry claims that we cannot just recycle our way out the mess we’re in. On her website, she offers tips, advice and useful resources towards living a plastic-free life, or at least reducing your plastic footprint. myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide Glasgow Local Food Network This is an informal network of community organisations and individuals from across Glasgow that are passionate about local food and striving to produce more of what we eat and eat more of what we produce. glasgowlocalfood. blogspot.co.uk Friends of the Earth Glasgow They are involved in recycling and planning issues, in safeguarding and preserving green spaces and biodiversity around the city. They also occasionally work with Glasgow City Council on green issues. https://sites.google.com/site/foeglasgow/ Eco-logic Books A small, ethically run company that specialises in environmental books. www.eco-logicbooks.com
ŠGUEST 2015 Estates and Buildings The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401 27