Environmental
and Geographical Sciences students recently undertook a series of resource
efficiency audits for community groups and schools in Northamptonshire. Audit organisations include an umbrella
organisation, Community Spaces, which runs twelve community centres in the
county and Northamptonshire County Council (NCC).
Over
the course of the year students undertake resource auditing training as part of
a 3rd year module. The first term involves a ‘training block’ of
topics which take the form of a series of ‘Environmental Business Imperatives ‘(EBIs).
The EBIs provide the students with the knowledge and skills to apply auditing
techniques in organisations. Upon
completion of the module students receive certification as can be seen in the
photo.
Monitoring
consumption of energy, water and raw materials as well as waste and waste water
is an essential first step in resource efficiency. In their written report, students identify priority
areas where financial savings can be made and ‘identify quick wins’ where
savings can be made for no capital outlay. The schools audits, in partnership with NCC,
took on a much greater focus this year as part of a wider European project,
‘ZECO2’s‘. NCC is committed
to a series of actions in the project which aims to feed into the development
of a community–focused zero carbon certification scheme. The emissions data
collected by the students will form part of the baseline data to help schools
reduce energy consumption and emissions and become examples of good practice.
