Leeds College of Building has a long-term strategy towards sustainability and both staff and students play their part in creating an environmentally friendly College, from simple initiatives like raising awareness of recycling to solar panelling that provides hot water for the refectory.

Waste

In the vocational areas at North Street and Millwright Street we have introduced a colour coding system similar to that used in the Construction Industry for trade waste, for example gypsum waste (white), inert waste (grey), wood (green), metal waste (blue), hazardous waste (yellow) and general waste (black). We also have well established recycling bins for paper, plastic & cans.

Travel

The Annual Travel Permit Scheme is part of a series of employee benefits within Leeds College of Building. This scheme supplements the College’s Green Travel Plan. It aims to reduce commuting by car through increased usage of public transport. The purpose of the scheme is to enable College employees to gain access to interest free loans in order to purchase an annual travel permit.

Energy

We always seek to minimise the use of energy for the purpose of light, heat and transport by means of:

• Use of energy efficient lighting units
• Room by room or floor by floor thermostatically controlled heating systems
• Utilisation of off peak heating
• Insulation of buildings
• Double Glazing
• Maintenance of all systems to ensure they are in good condition
• Replacement of old and inefficient energy systems with modern efficient systems
• Purchase of energy supplies from competitive providers

Solar Heating

In October 2010 we unveiled a solar power installation that is now being used to generate energy within the College as well as acting as an innovative teaching resource.

As part of the project, evacuated tubes that incorporate heat pipe technology have been fitted to the flat roof at the College’s North Street site.  Energy produced by the system heats water which is used in the main kitchen at North Street.