Environmental Management

QUB Carbon Management Strategy

The university sector has been identified by the Government as key to delivering carbon reduction across the United Kingdom. Queen’s is committed to improving its environmental performance and fundamentally changing the way it works so that it becomes an environmentally sustainable low carbon organisation.

As part of this commitment, Queen’s has participated in the Higher Education Carbon Management Programme and has produced a Carbon Management Plan (CMP) which sets out the University’s plans to reduce carbon emissions during the next ten years. The target is an ambitious 21% (or 22,460 tonnes) by 2020, against 2008 figures. The target will be reviewed and adjusted in light of experience, emerging technology or changes in legislation.

Simple steps towards reducing our energy usage

Fume Cupboards Fume Cupboards Switch off FC when not in use and it is safe to do so. If the FC is one of a working group and hence cannot be switched off – switch to standby. Switch off FC lights when not in use for more than 15 min

Fume Cupboards Fume Cupboards Close sashes whenever possible (especially before leaving at the end of day) Ensure the FC is working to its maximum efficiency Report any issues with FC or HVAC to Trevor Sewell 5580 as soon as possible.

LIGHTS Switch off ALL lights when not in use Compile and use an end of day lab management program

Use fridges and freezers efficiently Use fridges and freezers efficiently All fridges should be inspected to ensure there is no evidence of icing up or excessive dust on the cooling vanes - door seals should be checked on a regular basis. cold storage devices are highly energy intensive – they can account for up to 5% of total laboratory energy consumption.

HEATING Close windows (inc FC sash) when the heating or air- conditioning is on. Speak to the Building Liaison Officers regarding the temperature in your room to avoid using personal electric heaters.

IT Equipment Enabling the power down features on your PC (Screen savers do not save energy) Switch off PC monitor when you are not using it Switch off IT equipment at the plug, where possible, before you leave the University at the end of the day

RECYCLING FACILITIES WITHIN CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Centrally 1 Cardboard-Cardboard bins are located in the goods yard 2 Metals-Copper, Stainless steel, Aluminium, brass may be recycled. via stores 3 Computers and accessories- via the computer technician located in the Basement 4 Chemicalsswap scheme-via stores 5 Empty Chemical bottles-Aluminium, glass and plastic bottles may be recycled. via the bins in the goods yard 6 Mixed recyclables (non chemical)-mixed recycling bin located to the rear of the. goods bin beside the std waste bins.

RECYCLING FACILITIES WITHIN CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Locally Recycling bins are available on request – contact Trevor Sewell Paper- recycling bin available, once full to be taken to stores for disposal 2 Cardboard-recycling bin available, once full to be taken main bin in goods yard 3 Cans-collected by the cleaning staff 4 Bottles-(Plastic / domestic)- collected by the cleaning staff

Trevor Sewell ext / 5580

Legislation Environmental Protection Act 1990 Environmental Protection Act 1990 Water Resources Act 1991 Water Resources Act 1991 Water industry Act 1991 Water industry Act 1991 Pollution prevention and control regulations 2000 Pollution prevention and control regulations 2000 Environment act 1995 Environment act 1995

Principles of Green Chemistry 1. Prevention (i.e. avoiding the need to deal with waste). 1. Prevention (i.e. avoiding the need to deal with waste). 2. Atom Economy (maximising the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product). 2. Atom Economy (maximising the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product). 3. Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses - use and generate substances with little/no human or environmental toxicity. 3. Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses - use and generate substances with little/no human or environmental toxicity. 4. Designing Safer Chemicals (same functionality, less toxic). 4. Designing Safer Chemicals (same functionality, less toxic). 5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries (e.g. separation agents). 5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries (e.g. separation agents). 6. Design for Energy Efficiency (synthetic methods conducted at ambient temperature and pressure wherever possible). 6. Design for Energy Efficiency (synthetic methods conducted at ambient temperature and pressure wherever possible).

Principles of Green Chemistry 7. Use of Renewable Feedstocks (e.g. biological rather than fossil fuel). 7. Use of Renewable Feedstocks (e.g. biological rather than fossil fuel). 8. Reduce Derivatives (derivatization often requires additional reagents and can generate waste). 8. Reduce Derivatives (derivatization often requires additional reagents and can generate waste). 9. Catalysis - catalytic are superior to stoichiometric reagents. 9. Catalysis - catalytic are superior to stoichiometric reagents. 10. Design for Degradation – into innocuous products. 10. Design for Degradation – into innocuous products. 11. Real-time Analysis for Pollution Prevention – avoiding unwanted hazardous substances in chemical processing. 11. Real-time Analysis for Pollution Prevention – avoiding unwanted hazardous substances in chemical processing. 12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention – minimising the potential for releases, explosions, and fires. 12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention – minimising the potential for releases, explosions, and fires. Source: Anastas P. & Warner J., Green Chemistry, Source: Anastas P. & Warner J., Green Chemistry, 1998.