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Sussexsport is pedalling the way to a greener campus
Posted on behalf of: Sussexsport
Last updated: Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Duty Manager Ben Ospalak, with Sussexsport's new Green Impact-funded electric bike
Sussexsport has purchased an electric bike with funding from the National Union of Student's (NUS) Green Impact Scheme.
The award-winning behaviour change programme helps and supports university departments to improve their environmental performance, with the aim of empowering institutions to make meaningful change on sustainability practices that also improve the health and wellbeing of staff and students.
Building on their Green Impact bronze award from last year, Sussexsport has been looking for innovative ways to make the sports service more sustainable: from small tangible ‘greening actions’ like ensuring lights are switched off and printing double-sided, to reducing car use around campus and encouraging green ways to get active, with lunchtime walks and free jump ropes for staff.
The bike will have an impact on the car use of Sussexsport staff, offering an alternative way to travel and transport items around campus when walking is not an option.
Duty Manager Ben Ospalak, who applied for the NUS micro-grant, explained:
"Sussexsport staff regularly travel between our two sites on campus - the Sport Centre and Falmer Sports Complex - and need to transport items between facilities, but there's a lot of hills! We wanted to reduce the amount of staff car use to make sure we could model the green practices exemplified by the Green Impact Scheme.
“The electric bike has allowed us to create a truly green alternative to driving around campus, and the basket allows us to transport heavy items that would be difficult to walk with.
“We're really happy to have been awarded the grant and hope other departments may see us riding around and be inspired to do the same!"
Visit the Susssex Estates and Facilities (SEF) webpages to find out more about sustainability on campus. And if you'd like to get your department involved in the Green Impact Scheme, you can get in touch with SEF Energy and Environmental Manager, Matthew Arnold.