Which university is the greenest of them all?

Melanie Kramers

15 June 2011

My little sister is off to university after the summer, which is making me nostalgic for my own student days. I remember creating a complicated scoring system to help me decide where to apply. Potential destinations got bonus points for things like being far from home and having a decent nightlife.

One factor I didn't take into account was each university's eco credentials. Now, thanks to People & Planet's annual Green League, students can easily see which campus has the best approach to green living.

This year's results show Nottingham Trent is top of the class. It's launched a bike hire scheme to get staff and students cycling to lectures and designed buildings to make the most of natural light so it can save power. High-tech video conferencing saves academics from having to travel to international conferences and cuts the uni's carbon footprint.

I had to scroll way down to 101st place to find my old home, University of Leeds,  awarded a room-for-improvement 2:2.

I think it's great students can check out an institution's environmental stance when choosing where to study. It's not just about saving the planet. Green schemes like cutting down on energy waste help cash-strapped colleges save money for key things like research.

And better insulated rented homes would slash students' heating bills. Friends of the Earth is campaigning for a new law that will stop landlords renting out the coldest homes till they're improved to a minimum level of energy efficiency.

We need big solutions to big problems like climate change. That's why at Friends of the Earth we work with politicians to get them to make decisions that are good for people and the planet. Influential organisations like universities can lead the way in making a difference too.

I think Nottingham Trent's lead is inspiring stuff - an education in more ways than one.

Melanie Kramers, Communications & Media team