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What You Need to Know
About this section
This section contains advice and support on how to implement sustainable development in buildings and estates within the Further Education system. It is the largest section due to the sheer volume of information available and the breadth of the sub topics.
Its target audience is everyone within the FE system who has a role in the design, development or management of buildings or the wider estates within the FE system.
This section guides you through good practice management of FE buildings and estates in a sustainable way. It is vital that this is addressed as part of looking at the wider sustainability issues of the FE estate as it can contribute positively towards sustainable development in a variety of key areas such as:
- Reducing an estate / building’s environmental impact through better management of wastes and energy.
- Raising the environmental awareness and responsibility of all staff and students. For example through implementing an environmental policy or formal Environmental Management System (which requires all individuals in the organisation to be given environmental training).
- Improved presence and reputation within the community. For example through greening the supply chain and encouraging local procurement, as well as ensuring sound physical appearance of buildings.
The guidance is presented in individual sections that relate to the many topics concerning effective and efficient buildings and estates management:
- Sustainable Design: how to plan and implement new build developments and refurbishments that achieve highest levels of sustainable development principles
- Using energy efficiently: helping to reduce unnecessary use of energy around the FE estate while at the same time saving money
- Conserving water: ways that the FE system can reduce water wastage and save money at the same time
- Reducing unnecessary waste: how the FE system can reduce its impact on resource use, whilst also saving money and helping the environment
- Encouraging biodiversity: making the provider grounds more attractive, helping local wildlife and improving the well-being of the local population
- Purchasing: ways in which the FE system can take proactive steps towards helping its local community by developing and encouraging more sustainable purchasing strategies
- Transport and fleet management: identifying ways in which learners and staff can be encouraged to take more sustainable and healthy approaches to travel
- Environmental management systems: describing a structured approach towards developing ways to implement a system of procedures and documentation to manage the environmental impacts of the organisation.
