Second Beyond Gold Green Impact Award

Green Templeton is proud to have achieved a Green Impact Beyond Gold Award for the second year running. The award was announced at the Vice-Chancellor’s Sustainability Awards on Tuesday 9 July 2024.

Again one of only two colleges to achieve this level, this built on previous recognition in the annual Green Impact Awards. It recognised how Green Templeton has maintained and improved on existing sustainable initiatives, as well as a number of specific projects underway.

Climate Action Policy

This award came just weeks after the college announced its new Climate Action Policy (2024 to 2035) that was agreed by Governing Body at its June meeting. This will be key to driving Green Templeton’s sustainability agenda and shows externally both commitment and progress.

Energy saving

Energy saving continues to be a key focus of the college and will remain a big project that will be ongoing into 2025 and beyond. Self-contained flats and houses are now charged separately for gas and electricity, giving residents the opportunity to make the right sustainable decisions with their energy consumption. Despite its initial challenges this initiative has shown a decrease in gas usage by 20%. Electricity is sourced from the colleges’ consortium where 100% of it is from a green energy tariff.

Farm to Fork Trial

Green Templeton prides itself on its amazing food and meals but the team are also dedicated to working with sustainable ingredients and suppliers. 2023 saw a new Head Chef, Oliver Snowden, whose passion for local quality products, vegetarian / vegan cooking and minimising waste has driven further improved changes and initiatives within our supply chain.

One such initiative is Farm to Fork, part of Good Food Oxfordshire. Farm to Fork’s initial aims were to avoid wastage of crops from local Oxfordshire farmers that were not purchased via standard commercial routes and to promote a short supply chain, an early trial involving a handful of colleges, Green Templeton was keen to be one of them.

Domestic Bursar Teresa Strike said of the Beyond Gold award,

‘This award is recognition for the efforts across the whole college community including staff, fellows and our students.

‘We have a lot of work to do as identified in our new Climate Action Policy and our heat decarbonisation plan, but I am proud to work with colleagues who are as passionate as me to keep striving forward to make a difference.

‘The Green Templeton community is known for making a difference and this award is testament to everyone who has supported all our initiatives.’