University wins green accolade for student accommodation

Green Tourism Business Schemes presents award to University of Glasgow

[ClickPress, Thu Sep 06 2007] The University of Glasgow has taken a further step to enhance the city’s reputation as “the dear green place” by winning top marks for environmental friendliness.

The university, which was recently named the greenest academic institution in Scotland and the second most environmentally friendly in Europe, has been credited with the Green Tourism Business Schemes (GTBS) bronze award for four of their student residences.

The accommodation halls were graded against more than 120 measures of best practice, covering everything from efficient lighting and heating, to nature conservation, use of produce, renewable energy and community support and involvement.

"The university has made great strides in trying to reduce its environmental impact,” said Martin Webb, Senior Grading Advisor with the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

”That has included working closely with sanctuary management who run three of the residences that have received the GTBS BRONZE award. They are used in summer as tourist accommodation.

“Each site has undertaken a number of things including having recycling facilities for guests and students. They also only serve fair trade tea and coffee.

“Low energy lighting is used pretty much throughout as well and they have also developed customer information packs aimed at encouraging guests to use local produce as well as to walk, cycle or use public transport rather than the car"


The University of Glasgow’s record for sustainability dates back to 1998 when it was the first Scottish higher education institution to receive energy-efficiency accreditation from the Institute of Energy.

A table compiled by Grist, a leading environmental website, lists the University as the fourteenth greenest university in the world highlighting that almost 45 per cent of the University’s electricity is from renewable sources.


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For further information on the Green Tourism Business Scheme please contact Peppercorn PR on 01436 670570 or visit www.green-business.co.uk

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