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Environmental Sustainability/
Decarbonisation

We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint across our buildings, infrastructure and operational activities.

The College’s estate includes its historic city-centre site, incorporating the new Cheng Yu Tung Building, and student accommodation annexes in the east and north of Oxford. This diversity of architectural styles and ages creates an interesting set of challenges in terms of reducing our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, such as the integration of renewable energy solutions in to our older buildings.

However, guided by an independent feasibility study in 2019, we continue to introduce new measures towards decarbonisation across the College and its buildings, and our most recent initiatives are featured on this page.

Read more about the Cheng Yu Tung Building’s sustainability strategy here.

Reducing energy consumption

and increasing energy efficiency

  • Installation of low-energy LED lighting across all College buildings
  • Installation of draft-proofing to windows in our Grade 1 listed Turl Street buildings to reduce heat consumption.
  • Roof insulation upgrade in First and Second Quad buildings.
  • Bespoke doors added to staircases in Second Quad to reduce heat loss.
  • Motion detectors installed in corridors and rooms in the Cheng Yu Tung Building to control lighting.
  • Boiler upgrades in First and Second Quads to improve efficiency, reliability and sustained water temperatures.
  • £1.5m insulation upgrade to our Steven’s Close student accommodation (an all-electric building).
  • Beginning similar insulation project at Herbert Close in 2023.
  • Trialling heat monitoring systems in offices/accommodation
  • Supporting University sustainability initiatives such as the Oxford Carbon Challenge/ Green Action Week, as well as encouraging energy saving actions in College.

Managing waste

and reducing water consumption

  • Recycling of waste, and waste segregation, across all College sites.
  • Promotion of food waste recycling best practice, and provision of food waste recycling boxes in all kitchens.
  • Online booking system for Hall lunches and dinners to reduce food wastage.
  • Reduction/removal of single-use items such as take-away cups, plastic cutlery, plastic food containers and plastic drinks bottles.
  • Increased use of digital materials e.g. electronic committee meeting papers, to reduce/remove requirement for paper and printing.
  • Rain water recycling in First Quad on main Turl Street site for the lawns and gardens.
  • Installation of aerating shower heads and dual flush WC to reduce water consumption.
  • Discouragement of single use of towels.

Adopting renewable energy solutions

and electric machinery

  • Installation of ground source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels to power the new Cheng Yu Tung Building.
  • Installation of photovoltaic panels at our Steven’s Close student accommodation.
  • Installation of solar-powered hot water system at the Ship Street Centre.
  • Transition from petrol-driven garden and maintenance machinery to rechargeable battery-powered equipment, and leasing of electric van to reduce GHG emissions.

Zero carbon products

and services

  • Reusable glass water bottles used in Hall and removal of plastic water bottles from the catering provision.
  • Use of a sustainable local laundry service  – OxWash – for all laundry requirements.
  • Work with print suppliers to source paper stock that is either recycled or derived from wood from sustainable forests.
  • Participation in the HP Planet Partners programme, which recycles printing cartridges.
  • Sourcing of branded College clothing and merchandise made from recycled materials, such as recycled cotton, and/or is from ethically-sound manufacturers.
  • Where possible, procurement of ingredients from sustainable and/or local suppliers. 
  • Promotion of sustainable and Earth-friendly food initiatives such as Meat Free Mondays.

Encouraging sustainable travel

Jesus College is a small College in the heart of the city and therefore has very limited parking spaces. Most of our members travel to College by public transport, on foot or bicycle. Visitors are encouraged to travel by public transport and use the city’s Park & Ride system if travelling by car.

Ahead of the opening of our new Cheng Yu Tung Building, we are currently undertaking a travel survey to better understand the existing number of trips to the College made each day and peak usage times. This will enable us to determine measures to increase sustainable travel which will included in a new Travel Plan.

In the meantime, we have recently increased our capacity for secure bicycle storage on the main College site.

Improving biodiversity

  • Planting on our main Turl Street site provides a wide range of flora for bird and insect species to enjoy throughout the year. We also have the annual visit of a pair of ducks, who build their nest in our shrubbery.
  • We also undertake gardening and maintenance work using environmentally and animal/insect-friendly products and practises.
  • At our Steven’s Close site we are working to make the grounds more environmentally sustainable and wildlife-friendly. This work includes installing bird boxes and the protection of a badger’s sett, which is in use.
  • At our Herbert Close site, we’ve introduced a wide range of eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable practises to create a landscape that is enjoyed by our students and the local wildlife alike. Read more here.