Bolton College’s mission to reduce the environmental impact of its infrastructure has been recognised by Keep Britain Tidy. This organisation has made Bolton College an ‘Eco Centre’ in acknowledgment of its work to improve its green credentials in the local area.
Marie Gilluley, Principal of Bolton College, said: “The national ‘Eco Centre’ award recognises organisations that work to reduce the impact their buildings have on the local environment. This is something we have always been passionate about at Bolton College.
“It is an honour to be given this accolade and a real testament to the efforts of everyone at the College who has contributed.”
Among the initiatives put in place to reduce the environmental impact of the College buildings are:
A building energy management system which controls the energy use within the College;
Use of “green” building technologies, such as construction with concrete, which acts as a heat store to warm a building in winter, and absorbs heat to cool the building in summer;
Installation of photovoltaic cells to heat hot water;
Ground source heat pumps to provide under-floor heating;
Rainwater harvesting, with rainwater used to flush toilets in the building; and
Cycle storage on site to encourage students and staff to bike to work.
The College also promotes national awareness weeks to ensure that the issue of sustainability is always at the forefront of staff and students’ minds.
Jenny Lee, sustainability champion at Bolton College, said: “Being green is always at the top of the agenda for Bolton College. From saving energy to picking up litter, both the staff and student body are committed to keeping Bolton a great place to live, work and visit.”
In a further show of its commitment to the environment, the College has recently launched the Green Room – a training centre dedicated to teaching sustainable construction methods and green technology.
