School of Modern Languages

Welcome to the School of Modern Languages' Green Impact page. It aims to offer tips and advice on how staff and students can   contribute to reducing the School’s carbon impact.  There will be some accommodation moves during  the summer which might change the locations below but staff and students will be updated on this once finalised.  If you have any queries please contact the School Environmental Officer, Dr Marcas MacCoinnigh (m.maccoinnigh@qub.ac.uk).  

Recycling

The following facilities are available: 
Noticeboard: A noticeboard highlighting environmental issues is located on the first floor of 10 University Square
Paper: White recycling bags can be obtained from the School Office and are lifted every Wednesday from each house
Plastic bottles: Kitchen in 5 University Square, in some teaching rooms and corridor of 11 University Square 
Cans: Kitchen in 5 University Square, in some teaching rooms and corridor of 11 University Square
Batteries: Main hallway of Administration Building 
Cardboard: Temporarily under the stairs in number 10 University Square 
Stamps: Under noticeboard in ground floor of 10 University Square.  These are given to a charity.   

Further information can be found in the A-Z Guide to Waste and Recycling

Reducing waste

• Academic staff should add student resources to Queen's Online rather than hand out photocopies where appropriate.
• Tap water should be made available for meetings, vivas, etc. rather than bottled water.
• Where possible bring in a mug for tea/coffee rather than use disposable cups. These can be stored in the kitchen on the first floor of 7 University Square where there is also crockery which can be used for visitors.
• If you are ordering catering from internal or external suppliers, please ask them to ensure that, as far as possible, they are using locally produced, seasonal food. This limits the air miles associated with food brought in unnecessarily from other countries.
• If you have books you no longer need, please contact the School Manager as charity bookshops often will take these.

Transport

• Tips for travelling to, from and around the Queen’s campus are available by clicking here
• The Cycle+ scheme allows staff to purchase a bicycle and safety equipment, and receive National Insurance and Income Tax discounts through a salary sacrifice scheme. Further information is available at www.qub.ac.uk/cycleplus
• Details on the nearest cycle storage are available at Cycle Parking. The nearest shower and changing facilities are available, free of charge to staff, at level 1, Administration Building and Lower Ground Floor, McClay Library
• The cycle mileage allowance for travelling by bicycle on University business is 10p per mile
  Information on the University's car-sharing scheme can be viewed at www.qubcarshare.com or perhaps you could arrange to travel with a colleague if you’re both going to the same area for meetings, placement visits, fieldwork interviews, etc.
• The University has an interest-free loan scheme for staff to buy bus or rail passes. See http://go.qub.ac.uk/stafftravelcard.

Energy

• The School has switch-off plan which involves a light, power and heat check.
• Please switch off lights if you are last to leave a room, turn off appliances at the socket at the end of the working day and turn off any printers, chargers, etc during the day if they are not in use.
• The university has teleconference and video-conference facilities that can be used as an alternative to travelling to meetings. For more information visit http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/MediaServices/VideoConferencing/.
• Staff wishing to use Skype facilities should contact the School Manager (d.mccrory@qub.ac.uk).
• If you know of a problem with heating or draughts e.g. a radiator that’s not working or a draughty window, please report it promptly to the Buildings Liaison Officer, Mrs Sonia Rose s.rose@qub.ac.uk. 
• Be aware of the need to dress appropriately for the temperature in your working area e.g. as many buildings are colder than usual first thing on Monday or after the University holidays.
• Staff are encouraged not to heat their workspaces above 21oC.   For every one degree that an office is overheated, the cost of the heating increases by the equivalent of 8-10%. Overheating an office creates an atmosphere which can be as unpleasant as a cold office.

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