Zero Carbon Luton - Issue 1, 2024
A green university, the first football warm hub, counting waste plastic and more
Our first newsletter of 2024, and if it’s the first you’re reading, then welcome. This newsletter is all about the transition to a low carbon Luton, which is well underway. Just as well, since we’re aiming to reach net zero by 2040 as a town and that’s 16 years away. There’s work to do, and here’s some of what has been happening recently.
Bedfordshire University recognised as one of the greenest in the UK
The warm hub at Kenilworth Road
More teachers trained for climate action in Luton schools
Join the Big Plastic Count
Bedfordshire Uni among greenest in UK
Bedfordshire University continues to rank among the greenest in the country, coming 3rd in the annual league from People and Planet. Out of 151 in the league, only Reading University and Manchester Met score higher.
Beds has been among the top universities for several years, scoring first place last year. It reflects an ongoing focus on sustainability throughout the institution, and the university scores highly on environmental policy, carbon management, sustainable food and water.
“This sustainability league table position is the culmination of more than 10 years’ work,” notes Adam Higgin, Head of Sustainability at the University. Over those years, Beds Uni has worked on increasing recycling rates across the campus, improving water efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
The university runs on 100% renewable energy, some of this sourced from its own solar panels. There are five solar arrays, the largest of which is on the roof of the library (an award-winning sustainable building in itself, by the way). Together, these five solar systems have generated over a million kilowatt hours of clean energy, a milestone that was passed this year.
Kenilworth Road hosts warm hub
Kenilworth Road has become the first football stadium in the UK to host a warm space, opening its doors to local residents during the winter. Luton Town are welcoming people into the Eric Morecambe Lounge and John Moore Lounge during the week of the 22nd to the 26th of January.
There will be activities and refreshments for those needing somewhere warm during the day, or those just looking for someone to talk to at a time of year that can be quite isolating.
There will also be advice on energy efficiency, as the warm hub is being supported by shirt sponsor Utilita. They will have energy experts on hand, helping people to save money on their bills - and reduce their carbon emissions in the process. All very useful, especially since it happens to be Green Football Weekend.
More teacher champions for the climate
The second round of the Climate Action Teacher Champions programme has now concluded, with six more teachers trained and delivering a climate action plan for their school. Mayor of Luton, Councillor Yaqub Hanif, handed teachers their certificates in our final meeting, hosted at Stockwood Park Academy.
“It was a really enjoyable programme,” said Raheela Salim, a science teacher at Challney High School for Girls. “I love the fact that we got to meet other people from different schools, and networked and shared ideas with each other.” As part of its response to the environmental challenge, the school is installing a greenhouse, investigating solar panels, and involving students in an eco-team.
Schools are invited to join the third round of the CATCh programme, which is run by Luton Council, Groundwork, Youth Network and Zero Carbon Luton. The next set of workshops starts at the end of January, so don’t delay if you’d like to be part of it.
Join the Big Plastic Count
How can we reduce our plastic use and recycle more efficiently? To set good waste policies we need good information about what households actually get through. So The Big Plastic Count invites households to count up all the plastic they use in a week and record what they find on the website.
This information is then presented to the government, along with demands to do more to address the problem of plastic waste.
This year The Big Plastic Count takes place on the 11th to the 17th of March. You can take place as a household or do it at school. You’ll learn more about your own plastic use, and contribute to a national data-gathering project that is informing wider solutions.
In other news…
While you’re signing up for that big plastic survey, have you got time for another bit of citizen science? The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is imminent, and is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. There’s more to Luton’s birdlife than pigeons, you know.
Good to see that the lake at Wardown Park is to be restored, thanks to a National Lottery Grant. It’s another step towards the rehabilitation of the river Lea, with improvements to habitats and wetlands as well as the park’s built heritage.
Did you catch the festive pop-up swap-shop in the Mall over Christmas?
Environmental organisations in the town have been organising the Luton Green Hub to network and coordinate actions. Website coming soon, and see the Facebook page for details of upcoming events.
And finally, electric cars are all very well for those that can afford them, but electric buses are for everyone, right? I’ve been wondering when I’d see the first electric bus in the town, and that turns out to be… today. More please.
Thanks for reading. If you’d like to share a story in the next issue, please get in touch with jeremy@earthboundventures.org - I’m always looking out for stories, whether they’re from schools, businesses, organisations or individuals. What are you doing to help build a zero carbon Luton?