Paper is a major purchasing and disposal cost. It is estimated that the average office worker uses up to 45 sheets of paper per day, of which over half is considered waste. However, an efficient office can use as little as 16 sheets per person, per day. Virgin paper production usually involves high chemical and energy use, which can have detrimental effects during disposal (landfill or incineration). However, paper is a natural resource that can be recycled up to five times, substantially reducing these impacts.

Measuring and monitoring resource use is a key skill that all organisations should master, regardless of size or sector. It should be one of the first steps your organisation takes to improve its environmental performance. By regularly measuring and monitoring raw material use, you will start to identify patterns of wasteful behaviour and opportunities to cut back, improve environmental performance and save money.

Biomass as a source of renewable energy is used for a variety of applications including combined heat and power (CHP) or biofuels production. Many companies have already switched from fossil fuels to biomass, but there is more potential for growth. Among conditions to introducing biomass for heat and power generation is easy access to biomass resources (wood chips, waste of wood processing industry), as well the availability of a business plan for biomass collection and logistics.

Renewable resources for heat generation are cheaper, more secure and better for the environment. The costs associated with the technology depend on the size and type of the installation.

Most industry-grade process heating systems are based on steam or hot water from boilers that today mainly burn fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal, or electricity generated by different sources.

Solar process heating systems can supply up to 20-30 % of the heating demands of an average plant. This is called the ‘solar fraction’. As a renewable energy source, low-temperature solar thermal technology has huge untapped potential. Solar thermal can be backed up by other heat sources and combined with storage systems for guaranteed supply.

Cleaner and greener plumbing

The art of water saving

• Awareness-raising and practical measures save water on campus
• Reduced annual water consumption by 1 183 m3 and cost savings of around € 2 660

London Metropolitan University is one of the top five universities in the UK for reducing carbon emissions and a finalist in the 2012 Green Gown Awards for reducing its environmental impact.