Lancaster University has won a carbon reduction award in the annual Green Gown Awards which recognise environmental initiatives in tertiary education.
The University was praised for reducing carbon emissions by 2,500 tonnes each year through the successful implementation of a Travel Plan.
Mark Swindlehurst, Director of Facilities said: “Winning this Award for Carbon Reduction is great recognition of the efforts Lancaster University and its partners have put into the implementation of its new travel plan. It is also an excellent way of highlighting the saving in carbon reduction that has been made from travel mode changes by staff and students.”
These changes included the adoption of sustainable commuting such as a car share scheme, new student parking policy, subsidised bus services, work with the City Council to improve cycle routes and projects with Lancaster University Student Union to encourage student and staff walking and cycling.
The judges said: “This is an excellent effort over a long period of time that scored high on engagement, community benefit and culture change within the institution.
The Green Gown awards are organised by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) and were presented by Professor Iain Stewart MBE, who presented the BBC programme Earth: The Power of the Planet.
He said: “The Green Gown Awards are about celebrating a shift in thinking within the university and college sector to embrace and support those that are really pushing ahead with meaningful ways of making a future that works for all.”