Top global green ranking for University of Bradford

The University has been placed sixth in the world in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2014, which have just been announced. Bradford is also the fourth-ranked university in the UK.

The rankings looked at 360 universities from 62 countries that made submissions – up from 301 universities last year. They examined universities’ performance across a number of categories, including transport, water usage, waste management, energy and climate change, green statistics and education.

The accolade adds to Bradford’s impressive green achievements, which include regular Green League first class performance, Business in the Community Environmental Index Platinum, EcoCampus accreditation, Universities That Count first place, multiple Green Gown awards triumphs and national industry awards wins including from Green Build and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

Among the continued improvements and developments that have kept Bradford at the top of the rankings are:

• A major refurbishment of the library and construction of our flagship Bright Building and STEM building (science, technology, engineering and maths) – both receiving BREEAM Outstanding* and the STEM building achieving Passivhaus status. These developments showcase sustainable construction techniques and innovative design.

• Continued carbon footprint reductions have achieved a 34 per cent reduction since 2005, great progress towards the University’s target of 50 per cent by 2020.

• The University’s partnership with Cycle Hub, Green Energy Challenge and Edible Campus (areas of fruit, vegetables and herbs available to be harvested by students and staff).

Bradford’s Director of Estates and Facilities, Clive Wilson, said: “We are delighted and proud once again to be recognised as one of the most sustainable universities in the world. We have an ambitious and visionary programme that is embedding sustainable development across everything that we do, involving all our staff, students, visitors and the wider community around the University.

“We call this programme Ecoversity and as well as creating a wonderful place in which to study and work, it addresses our social and environmental responsibilities extremely effectively.”

More information on the GreenMetric rankings can be found at http://greenmetric.ui.ac.id/ranking/year/2014

*BREEAM - Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology – is the world's foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.