UCC nominated for top European environmental award

University College Cork has been nominated for the 2014 European Business Award for the Environment.

The university is the only Irish finalist out of 17 nominees and has been selected based on the success of its Green Campus programme.

This initiative has gone from strength to strength in recent years, bagging the institution a Green Flag for the environment. UCC was also the first university in the world to be awarded the status of a Green Campus.

According to UCC President Dr Michael Murphy, the programme is “a source of immense pride to the University, its staff and its students.”

Director of Buildings and Estates, Mark Poland, added: “This initiative has provided a great forum for environmentally-conscious members of staff and students to assist in how we tackle our environmental responsibilities as a university community.”

Figures reveal the project has been an enormous success - reducing energy consumption across campus by 9%, saving the university €1million on waste costs, and saving 750,000 cubic metres of water since 2007.

The university’s recycling rate rose from 21% in 2007 to 75% in 2013 and twice as many staff now cycle to work.

The latest in a long line of accolades for this programme, nominees for the European Business Award for the Environment are hailed as companies that successfully combine innovation, competitiveness and outstanding environmental performance.

#Environment: 17 companies nominated for the 2014 European Business Awards for the Environment http://t.co/X1R7bH6vII

— European Commission (@EU_Commission) September 22, 2014

European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik, said the finalists “have a proven track record in combining business success and respect for the environment. They showcase real-world experience of the fruits of eco-innovation.”

The applicants represent the increasing environmental commitment of European businesses and their willingness to adopt eco-innovative practices, despite the current economic climate.

The awards were established in 1987 and are presented every two years. The overall winners will be announced on the first of December at a ceremony in Lyon, France and will be selected by panel of 24 experts from European and national authorities, academia, business and the green technology sector.