CGPP2004.

18

15/09/2005

09:26

Page 2

CGPP Report 2004/18

AT A GLANCE
The rapid growth of NUI Maynooth has led
to an increase in on-site waste generation as
well as an increase in on-site energy usage
and water usage: NUI Maynooth and St
Patricks College currently spend approximately
1 million annually on utilities such as electricity,
gas, oil and water, and on waste disposal.
In order to minimise the environmental
impact of their on-site operations, and
reduce the cost of overheads, both
institutions have begun to develop and
implement a holistic, campus-wide
environmental management programme.
A recent pilot project carried out in selected
campus buildings has shown that it is
possible to reduce total annual waste
disposal to landfill by 134 tonnes. In
addition, energy savings equivalent of 674
MWhe/385 tonnes of CO2, and savings of
331 m3 water were achieved as a result of
implementing cleaner, greener practices.
To date, the implementation of the Cleaner
Greener Production Programme (CGPP) has
resulted in significant cost savings. Projected
annual savings have been calculated at more
than 100,000.

GREENING THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AT

NUI MAYNOOTH
AIMS OF THIS PROJECT
The aims of this project were to implement
cleaner production principles across every
aspect of on-campus operations. In
particular, it set out to improve the
universitys use of limited natural
resources; to reduce on-site waste
production, and to increase the recycling
of on-site waste.
It also set out to generate greater
awareness of energy usage issues
throughout the campus by implementing
targeted information programmes and
introducing a range of energy-saving
measures.

Designing an energy and water submetering and benchmarking system.

Carrying out energy audits and
commissioning a Building
Management System (BMS) link up.
Installing water-saving devices in
selected campus buildings.
Developing and implementing an
awareness campaign to promote
sustainable resource usage and
minimise waste production.
Identifying areas of potential wastage
of energy resources and water usage:
this was monitored, measured and
quantified in selected campus
buildings.

The measures identified will now be

incorporated into the university buildings and
estates cleaner greener production policy,
and will be implemented as part of a fiveyear strategic plan. It is expected that savings
will be considerable when these measures are
applied throughout the campus in the
coming years.

NUI MAYNOOTH

Printed on recycled paper using water based inks

The NUI Maynooth campus is located in Co

Kildare, about 20 miles from Dublin. It was
established as one of four constituent
universities of the National University of
Ireland by virtue of the Universities Act
(1997). For two centuries prior to that, the
university institution was an integral part of
St Patricks College, Maynooth (established
1795) and from 1910 it was a recognised
college of the National University of Ireland.
The university boasts a wide range of facilities
and an ever-expanding campus, with two
new buildings completed in March 2004 alone.
This CGPP project represents the first serious
attempt by NUI Maynooth to improve its
environmental performance.

These initiatives included:

Fig 1. NUI Maynooth

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
During the course of this project, NUI
Maynooth developed a number of
initiatives specifically aimed at prioritising a
range of environmental issues.

Establishing a programme which was

designed to quantify the amount of
waste generated on the campus and
to facilitate the prevention and
recycling of that waste.
Awareness-raising campaigns for staff
and students were implemented:
these were aimed at encouraging
sustainability in general and
participation in this CGPP project in
particular.

BETTER BUSINESS IN A BETTER IRELAND

CGPP2004.18

15/09/2005

09:26

Page 3

ACHIEVEMENTS
The project team recorded the following achievements:
Approximately 20% of the total on-site waste stream
has been recycled since the waste minimisation and
recycling programme was introduced. This percentage is
expected to increase significantly as awareness of waste
minimisation/recycling issues grows.

Table 1. Project Achievements

Item
Waste

Water

Energy

Cleaners

Achievements
In-depth waste audit
Recycling scheme
Purchasing policy
Awareness campaign
In-depth water audits
Leak identification and repair
Installation of infrared detectors
Awareness campaign
Library audit completed
Reduced consumption by
changing cleaner contract
BMS connections ordered
Awareness campaign
Savings on cleaning contract
due to revised schedule

Extent of
application
Campus wide

Savings to date
30,000 by
renegotiating
contract

Three buildings

Up to 30%
where detectors
fitted

Library
Campus wide

To be
implemented

Six buildings
Campus wide
Campus wide

Potentially 50%
of previous
contract

Table 2. Predicted Annual Project Savings

Item
Waste

Water

Fig 2. Campus recycling bins

Energy

A renegotiation of the existing waste contract generated

savings of 30,000.
An audit of energy usage in the Library area revealed
that if specific energy efficiency measures were to be
implemented, savings of up to 25% could be generated.
On the list of areas of potential improvement was the
periphery of the Library floors where ample, natural
lighting could be exploited more effectively. (See Figure 4).
The introduction of the waste paper recycling bin
scheme facilitated a revised office cleaning schedule. The
new cleaning programme is expected to yield
considerable savings.
In urinals where occupancy detectors were installed,
these detectors now save up to 30% water usage.
Most of these savings are expected to increase as the
project is extended across the campus, and as the various
environmental awareness raising campaigns and energy
saving initiatives begin to take effect.

Predicted annual
Predicted annual
savings (% of costs)
savings
16% based on existing waste
Saving on general waste 134 tonnes
contract
charges due to recycling
scheme
3
<1%
Savings on water used in 331 m
toilets
Savings on energy use due 224 MWh electricity Up to 10% in
buildings where BMS
to upgrade & expansion of (174 tonnes CO2)
fitted
the BMS
Savings on energy use due 67 MWh electricity Up to 25% of library
to implementing library and 240 MWh gas energy costs
audit recommendations
(100 tonnes CO2)
Savings on electricity use 143 MWh (111 6% of total electricity
use
by cleaners
tonnes CO2)
Area of Potential Savings

Table 3. Predicted Annual Campus Savings

Item

Waste

Water

Energy

Area of Potential Savings

Predicted annual
environmental
savings
Saving on general waste 134 tonnes
charges due to recycling
scheme
Savings on water used in 3,401 m3
toilets

Predicted annual
savings (% of
costs)
16% based on existing
waste contract

Approximately 3%
of total campus
water use
Savings on energy use due to 415 MWh (324 Upto 10% of total
campus energy use
BMS installation and audit
tonnes CO2)
Savings on electricity use by 143 MWh (111 Approximately 6%
of total electricity
changes to cleaning schedules tonnes CO2)
costs

Fig 3. Table predicting annual campus savings.

Although there is still room for further improvement,
(particularly in the area of on-site energy audits and energysaving initiatives), the CGPP project has enabled NUI
Maynooth and St Patricks College to begin the process of
implementing a sustainable environmental management
programme: this is in turn aimed at decreasing the
universitys overall environmental impact and increasing the

The potential annual environmental and economical impacts

of the Programme (if it were to be implemented on a
campus-wide basis) are set out in Table 1.

level of operational cost savings.

CGPP2004.18

15/09/2005

09:27

Page 4

have been achieved by maintenance staff following the

installation of a centrally controlled BMS. Finally, because
the project has generated positive publicity for the
university, there is the possibility that it may be used as a
role model for educational establishments elsewhere.

LESSONS
Fig 4. Poor use of natural light in Library

OBSERVATIONS
In order to sustain the level of improvements attained to
date, the following future activities are planned:

Commissioning of additional BMS link-ups.

Series of sustained awareness campaigns for students
and staff.
Staff training/student awareness surveys.
Series of on-campus awareness-raising events.
Energy audits
Implementation of energy-saving and water-efficiency
measures in additional campus buildings.
Investigate the installation of a vermiculture
composting unit.

The implementation of an environmental monitoring and

management programme at a large academic institution is a
major task, requiring a commitment of considerable
organisational and financial resources. While the allocation of
project funding was helpful, the success of the project was
largely determined by the commitment and involvement of
key project staff.
Because the time commitment involved in meeting the
demands of normal teaching and management duties made it
difficult for internal staff to sustain such a major project, the
assistance of external specialist consultants proved invaluable:
they helped to keep progress on track, enabling the project
team to meet targets and ensure that planned on-site
initiatives were implemented in order to achieve the requisite
energy-savings and environmental impact improvements.
In designing any future projects and scheduling the
implementation of specific tasks, it would be important to
take into account the constraints of the academic calendar,
such as exam periods, holidays and times of high or low
occupancy on campus.
Finally, in order to sustain improvements and savings, it
would be essential for the University to continue to commit
the requisite time and resources to the Programme.

Figure 5: Energy profile monitor

The approach and methodology adopted by NUI Maynooth
and St Patricks College in the execution of this CGPP
project could be adopted quite easily by other educational
establishments and office-based organisations which wish to
improve their environmental performance and achieve
significant costs savings related to their on-site energy usage
and waste production.
Other benefits that have accrued to NUI Maynooth as a
result of its involvement in this project include the potential
educational value of exposing students and staff to the
vermiculture system, and the improved efficiencies that

MORE INFORMATION
For more information on this project contact:
Finbarr Horrigan
Buildings Officer
NUI Maynooth
Maynooth
Co Kildare
Tel: 01-708 3930
Fax: 01-708 3411
Email: finbarr.horrigan@nuim.ie
Website: www.may.ie

CGPP2004.18

15/09/2005

09:27

Page 1

CLEANER GREENER
PRODUCTION IS
the application of integrated preventive environmental
strategies to processes, products, and services to increase
overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the
environment.
Production processes: conserving raw materials and
energy, eliminating toxic raw materials, and reducing the
quantity and toxicity of all emissions and wastes
Products: reducing negative impacts along the life cycle
of a product, from raw materials extraction to its
ultimate disposal.
Services: incorporating environmental concerns into
designing and delivering services.

CLEANER GREENER
PRODUCTION REQUIRES
new attitudes, better environmental management, and
evaluating available technology options. We need to take
good environmental practice to the stage where it is an
inherent part of any business operation.

HOW IS CLEANER GREENER

PRODUCTION DIFFERENT?
Much of the current thinking on environmental protection
focuses on what to do with wastes and emissions after they
have been created. The goal of cleaner, greener production
is to avoid generating pollution in the first place.
This means:

Better efficiency
Better business
Better environmental protection
Lower costs
Less waste
Less emissions
Less resource consumption

WHY IS THE CLEANER

GREENER PRODUCTION
PROGRAMME BEING RUN?

The long-term goal is to ensure that cleaner, greener production

becomes the established norm in Ireland. The programme seeks to
promote environmentally friendly business through increased
resource productivity, waste reduction, recovery of materials,
improved efficiency in a product value chain, energy management,
and a change of culture within organisations.
The programme aims are focussed on avoiding and preventing
adverse environmental impact rather than treating or cleaning up
afterwards. This approach brings better economic and
environmental efficiency.

PROGRAMME MANAGERS:
The Clean Technology Centre (CTC) at Cork Institute of
Technology was appointed to manage the programme in
association with OSullivan Public Relations Ltd, and Energy
Transport Actions Ltd, (ENTRAC).
The CTC was established in 1991 and is now nationally and
internationally regarded as a centre of excellence in cleaner
production, environmental management and eco-innovation across
a range of industrial sectors.

WHERE CAN I GET

FURTHER INFORMATION?
This case study report is one of 29 reports
available from the organisations that
participated in the first phase of the Cleaner
Greener Production Programme. A summary
of all the projects and CD containing all the reports
are also available. More information on the Programme
is available from the Environmental Protection Agency
Ms. Helen Walsh,
CGPP,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Richview, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14, Ireland.
Tel. 01 2680100
Website

Fax. 01 2680199

www.epa.ie

select link to cleaner production.

Email. ertdi@epa.ie
Printed on recycled paper using water based inks

The Irish Government, through the National Development

Plan 2000 - 2006, has allocated funds to a programme for
Environmental Research, Technological Development and
Innovation (ERTDI).

The Department of the Environment and Local Government asked

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to run the CGPP as
part of the ERTDI programme. With the programme continuing to
2006 about 60 businesses will be supported to implement cleaner
greener production and to demonstrate their achievements to the
rest of Ireland.