04.01.2007
The university's students' union is launching a new environmental campaign from 11-17 January. Captain Carbon and his CO2 road show will be descending upon all the university sites. His mission: to inform and encourage students and the university on how to reduce their carbon footprints.
Reducing carbon emissions is seen by many as an important factor to reduce climate change. A carbon footprint is a measure of the CO2 levels emitted by people into the atmosphere through people's lifestyle choices, for example how much gas and electricity they use.
As well as carbon saving initiatives the road show will also feature the university's Dr Nigel Bish and his energy saving bicycle machine, which involves students pedalling a bike that is connected to a transformer that powers a light bulb. The aim of the activity is to show how much more energy is needed to be exerted to power a normal bayonet light bulb compared to an energy saving bulb.
On top of this there will also be energy advisors informing students how they can make a 20 per cent energy reduction within their homes, this will help reduce students' carbon footprints and save money. To promote sustainable transport free winter bike checks will also be carried out by local cycling champion Dr Bike.
Aside from the CO2 road show there will be a chance to see Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' followed by a key speaker talking on the subject of Carbon Footprints, and tours to the UK's first Earthship, an environmentally sustainable building based at Stanmer Park.
Organiser of the campaign Vice President Education & Equalities, Alex Putnam (AKA Captain Carbon) said:
"The Carbon Footprint Campaign is a great opportunity to curb the amount of CO2 levels released into the atmosphere by the university and the campaign is designed to inform and encourage students how to reduce their carbon output and the university's footprint. If all universities had effective campaigns, such as this one in place, then the higher education sector's overall CO2 footprint would be dramatically reduced."
"The importance of implementing this message into universities and informing students about the concept of carbon footprints is far reaching, as it will be the responsibility of the current generation of students that will determine whether or not the threat from CO2 levels and climate change is escalated or extinguished."
The CO2 road show will be running through out the first and second week of the new term and will tour all main sites. For more details please contact Alex Putnam at suvpe1@brighton.ac.uk or on 01273 643196 or go to www.brightonsu.com.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
