Highly sustainable student accommodation honoured with national climate action award
UWE Bristol has won the 2030 Climate Action award at the annual UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards for its highly sustainable student accommodation, Purdown View, the largest certified Passivhaus student accommodation development in the UK.
The Green Gown Awards celebrates the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges. The awards have recognised UWE Bristol for delivering a ‘standout’ student accommodation project, which comprises a 900-bedroom student village at the university’s Frenchay campus.
The development has been considered groundbreaking for its sustainability credentials, reducing energy by 81% and carbon by 79% per room compared with the housing it replaced. Purdown View has achieved Passivhaus certification, a sustainable approach to building which uses techniques to retain warmth and save energy on heating.
The Green Gown Award judges felt that Purdown View “proves that dedication, strategic effort, and early-stage investment can yield substantial long-term savings while achieving exceptional results in carbon reduction and energy efficiency”.
UWE Bristol also received a highly commended award in the Nature Positive category for BEELINE, the university’s initiative which integrates nature by providing an accessible network of edible pollinator planting across UWE campuses. 10 ‘core’ plants have been chosen to provide food for staff and students as well as vital foraging opportunities for a wide variety of bees and other pollinating insects. The project aims to help tackle the decline in pollinator numbers by sustaining local populations within the built environment.
Kirsti Norris, Energy Manager at UWE Bristol said: “We’re really proud of Purdown View, which demonstrates our commitment at UWE to address climate change and move towards our 2030 carbon targets. Purdown View is allowing our students to live sustainably on campus and engaging them in thinking about environmental impact. It’s wonderful that we’ve been recognised by the Green Gown Awards for the important work that is taking place across our campuses towards a more sustainable future.”
This is the 20th annual UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards in association with UKRI, and saw 133 projects from 83 institutions shortlisted.
Related news
28 November 2024
Work of UWE Bristol academics features in Government report on air quality measurement
Two UWE Bristol academics have made contributions to an influential Government report on the measurement of air pollution.
27 November 2024
Traffic noise reduces the stress-relieving benefits of listening to nature, study finds
Road traffic noise reduces the wellbeing benefits associated with spending time listening to nature, researchers have discovered.
15 November 2024
Grasslands project led by UWE Bristol academic to support UK’s bid for net zero emissions
A UWE Bristol researcher will lead a £4.7 million project focused on the management of UK’s grasslands aimed at supporting efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
12 November 2024
UWE Bristol to help inspire next generation of young people into green careers
UWE Bristol will play a key role in a new programme to educate more than 10,000 young people in the West of England about green skills and help them explore eco-friendly careers.
05 November 2024
Researchers are turning soil sounds into songs
When David Attenborough said saving the planet is now a communications challenge, he probably wasn’t thinking about the possibility of DJs doing soil sets.
01 October 2024
New guidance launched to help local authorities promote health through Local Plans
New practical guidance to help local authorities in England create places that promote health has been co-authored by a UWE Bristol academic.
17 September 2024
Repair Café returns to UWE Bristol’s School of Engineering
UWE Bristol’s Repair Café returns this autumn with a special ‘repairs skills day’ on 25 September, ahead of the café reopening monthly from 9 October.
03 September 2024
World-first rubies grown in situ from waste materials
A UWE Bristol researcher looks set to transform the jewellery industry after successfully growing the world’s first ruby in situ, in a platinum ring.
02 September 2024
Reintroduction of beavers to wetlands having positive impact on bats, research suggests
The reintroduction of beavers to wetlands in England and Wales is leading to an increase in bat activity, a new study suggests.
12 July 2024
Bristol start-up collects urine from Bristol Pride to develop sustainable fertiliser
A start-up based at UWE Bristol is collecting urine from this year’s Bristol Pride to support the development of a sustainable nutrient-rich plant fertiliser.
11 July 2024
UWE Bristol completes largest low carbon student accommodation development in UK
New student accommodation at UWE Bristol which is the largest low carbon development of its kind in the UK has been completed.
17 June 2024
UWE Bristol in world top 50 on host of sustainability measures in Impact Rankings
UWE Bristol has been named in the top 50 in the world on a range of measures in a league table focused on institutions pursuing sustainable development goals.