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The winners of Imperial College Union’s ‘Greening Imperial’ competition are announced online today, with two students sharing the £1000 prize. The judging panel consisting of estates staff, the College’s new Program Director for Corporate Social Responsibility, academic staff, Deputy President (Education and Welfare) and the RCSU President who part-funded the competition made the unanimous decision to award the prize to two research students, Adele Peel and Steven Johnston for their practical approaches to making Imperial more sustainable. Adele’s idea tackled student halls, proposing a competition between halls to reduce their energy use and waste production.
She says "I'm very pleased that student's in halls of residence will finally have an incentive to use energy efficiently! It'll be interesting to see the exact implementation and also which hall will be the best!"
Steven focused on the disposable paper cups available from catering outlets across the College, with a three-step approach to reducing the number we use as well as recycling the ones handed out. Other student proposals which came highly commended included ideas to reduce water bottle wastage and composting schemes.
The Union will be working with College to discuss the implementation of these proposals, continuing the efforts of many College staff and students to make Imperial Greener. The College hopes to see its reputation as a sustainable university improve after achieving a disappointing ‘Fail’ in the People and Planet 2008 Green League Tables. Steven believes simplicity is the key, stating “Promoting a sustainable culture on campus will spread good habits that the students and staff can carry with them elsewhere in their lives.” The People and Planet Green League 2009 will be announced in the Autumn term.
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