Gavin Hodgson
Energy and Carbon Reduction Manager, Oxford Brookes University 

At Oxford Brookes University we are excited to be taking part in Low Carbon Week Oxford, which started on Saturday and runs until this Sunday.

With the University of Oxford, we will be inviting you all to take part in our Big Green Treasure Hunt.

This will be the perfect opportunity to explore the city while learning about some of the green initiatives that both universities and other organisations are championing.

Plus there’s the chance to win some great prizes, which include a meal for two at the Ashmolean, eco products that will help you to save money while benefitting the environment and Oxford Bus Company city passes.

There are a total of 12 treasure hunt locations in Oxford.

Each treasure hunt location is relatively easy to find – you just need to download a treasure hunt map from the Low Carbon Oxford Week website lcoweek.org Each of the 12 treasure hunt posters is located near some of the sustainable and green initiatives within the city.

For a chance to win a prize at each location all you need to do is scan the QR code on your smart phone and answer a simple question.

Treasure hunters that find and answer questions at all 12 locations will be entered into a grand prize draw for a Brompton bike provided by Brompton Bike Hire worth £1,000.

At Oxford Brookes, we take a holistic approach to sustainability and it’s the undercurrent of everything we do.

Through research, knowledge transfer, teaching and learning, we aim to have a positive environmental impact on our community, environment, staff, students and suppliers.

Our initiatives such as the Bike Doctor, free bus passes for our students and taking part in the annual Global Corporate Challenge to increase physical activity, all ensure our students and staff are educated in the importance of reducing emissions and at the same time encourages a healthier, more active style of living.

In order to increase our positive impact we must first understand what positive and negative impact our university is having on the world; no mean feat considering how big and complex our institution is, but we are making progress.

Incorporating carbon reduction measures into our new building’s design philosophy is just one example of how our estate will bring a positive impact over the coming years.

The John Henry Brookes Building, for example, is able to make the most of natural sunlight to heat the building while naturally ventilating the space inside.

The Abercrombie extension uses solar panels and recycles rainwater to reduce the flow into local sewer systems.

The John Payne building features a green roof with a vegetation layer that absorbs light preventing its energy from turning into excess heat.

The roof also acts as an insulator, preventing heat loss at cooler times of the year.

Our Westminster Hall accommodation uses innovative passive infrared sensors, which prevent unused rooms being heated unnecessarily.

More on our green initiatives can be discovered along the Big Green Treasure Hunt route, which we hope you and your families will enjoy.

There are some great health benefits of walking and cycling between the treasure hunt locations, so please, no car journeys.