Why Higher Education Sector?

The 130 institutions which make up the higher education and research communities within the UK employ almost 300 000 staff and educates around 2 million students[1]. Together these institutions are responsible for:

• Consuming 5.2 billion kWh of energy per annum at a cost of over £200 million [2]
• Consuming over 16 million cubic metres per annum of water [3]
• Spending £3 billion per year on goods and services
• Over 1 million people travelling to work and study almost every day
• Producing hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste to landfill and incineration every year.

Educational institutions have a significant impact on the environment and therefore have a pivotal role to play in encouraging sustainable development in the wider community at local, regional and global levels.

EcoCampus is thoroughly supportive of the HEFCE Strategic Plan:

“to make sustainable development a central part of our strategy for the future development of the higher education sector”.

The project will assist HEI's in their environmental performance and therefore improve the reputation of our sector as being good corporate citizens."