New Incoming Students

Green Campus

Toggle

Maynooth Green Campus Committee
Strategic Plan 2023-2028 submission

Aim:

Make Maynooth University an internationally recognised model in relation to environmental sustainability and environmental justice in its planning, operations, teaching and research and public engagement.

Objectives:

Make MU a model in relation to energy use and conservation;
Make MU a model in relation to waste reduction, recycling;
Make MU a model in relation to water management;
Make MU a model in relation to travel and transport management;
Make the campus a model site for promoting biodiversity;
Make MU an internationally recognised centre for promoting climate justice;

General Actions:

Continue to collaborate with SPCM and Trócaire in pursuing environmental goals and climate justice;
Invest in a planned ducting system that integrates underground services (electricity, gas and water) into a system to serve existing and new buildings on the campus;
Promote the mainstreaming of good practice through University structures;
Promote the themes of environmental sustainability and related social justice concerns across the board in teaching, learning, research and public engagement at the University;
Work with local community groups to harmonise efforts in sustainability for Maynooth as a whole
Support efforts to achieve and retain the An Taisce Green Campus Flag;

To expand on the thematic actions, please see each tab.

Biodiversity

Link the rich biodiversity of our campus to wider global issues of biodiversity, such as pollination, food security
Embrace and promote the participation by the University in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP), as initiated by the Maynooth Green Campus Biodiversity working group
Highlight exciting participative learning events such as annual Biodiversity Week and the Bio-Blitz event's
Develop the biodiversity theme in promoting the campus as a site for public engagement
Engage with municipal, county and regional agencies in promoting the rich cultural and environmental heritage of the University and surrounding area for visitors and tourists

Waste Management

Consolidate projects on improving waste stream management
Improve bin labelling and educating and motivating staff and students
Continue to develop new smart bins and other projects
Continue to improve data on waste in conjunction with waste recycling contractors
Promote new imaginative projects, particularly in relation to plastic bottles, and non-recyclable disposables in the catering area

Energy Management

Achieve all required public targets about energy reduction of 33% per FTE student by 2020
Obtain and operate ISO50001 standard energy management system for this purpose
Mainstream best practice protocols for energy conservation in the everyday operation of insulation, lighting, heating and electrical equipment buildings, offices, labs – building by building;
Do feasibility studies for renewable energy: a) a significant wind power project b) a significant solar power initiative, and c) explore the potential for geothermal sources;
Continue to improve heating efficiency and replace inefficient plant;
Utilise common ducting system for as called for above;

Water Conservation

Upgrade water pipes and eliminate leaks from the system
Utilise the common ducting system (proposed above) to enable proper diagnostic and immediate response to leakages
Find imaginative ways to incorporate storm-water retention basins for new buildings into lakes to provide landscaping for environmental, social and aesthetic benefit, instead of beneath buildings
Promote use of rainwater and grey water where appropriate within buildings and in grounds management
Promote the use of re-usable drinking bottles and the elimination of single-use plastic bottles
Provide more goose-necked water fountains on campus and maintain and clean existing ones daily, provide attractive signage & continue promotions like the offer of a reusable MU drink bottle to all new students);

Sustainable Travel and Transport

Promote cycling through infrastructure (cycle-ways on and off campus; secure, sheltered bike racks; accessible shower facilities, repair and sale services on campus)
Promote walking and review and redesign pedestrian pathways
Promote better access by bus services (e.g., bringing Dublin Bus services beyond Maynooth town to the North campus)
Promote reduced car usage and car-sharing
Redesign the routing of cars to eliminate pedestrian-motorist intersections
Significantly reduce the distance an average car drives on the campus daily – (the circular one-way system on the North Campus is exactly one mile long!)
Review the siting of parking to reduce or minimise pedestrian road-crossing to give way to pedestrians (in particular, the major busy crossing near the School of Education

Climate Justice

Sustain the leadership position that MU has achieved in recent years through its work on climate justice
Organise events to highlight the importance of action against climate change via mitigation and adaptation
Continue to lead about ethical investment and divestment campaigning nationally

Sustainable Agriculture & Food

Create an edible garden on campus
Promote and encourage healthy eating habits through the produce from the garden
Create a recipe book in conjunction with the Healthy Campus team
Create a beautiful hub where students, staff and the wider community can gather to learn about sustainable agriculture, soil health and growing food

Green Labs

To get MU research and teaching labs 'My Green Labs' certified