DMU's environmental sustainability is first class

The university also recorded its highest ever position in the league being placed 11th out of 151 institutions.

The People and Planet University League is the UK's only comprehensive and independent green ranking of universities. DMU is one of 30 universities to achieve a ‘First’ in the 2015 league, and this marks the fourth year in a row in which it has achieved a First Class award, the highest possible. The award is assessed by looking at DMU's policies, action plans and actual performance including energy generation and carbon emissions.

DMU has always taken a proactive approach to addressing environmental and sustainability issues. The recent installation of solar panels on a number of buildings is already generating cleaner electricity, and the implementation of an environmental management system is assessing the university's largest environmental impacts and setting out plans to reduce them. Initiatives such as the Green Impact campaign and Student Switch Off mean that every member of the DMU community is able to work towards making the university a greener place.

Alongside innovative degrees such as the Architecture and Sustainability MSc, looking at the creation of green buildings, and the Climate Change and Sustainable Development MSc, DMU has taken steps to embed education for sustainable development within many taught courses.

Recent travel initiatives have also increased cycling rates amongst staff to around four times the national average. Work to measure the environmental impact of the university's procurement and supply activities which includes staff and student travel and commuting, emissions from waste and water, and our supply chain emissions has been used as a benchmark for other HE institutions to follow by HESA.

Karl Letten, environmental and sustainability officer said: "To be placed 11th, our highest placing to date, is a fantastic achievement. This means that the university has achieved a First Class Award for four years in a row which is a real testament to the great work of our staff and students in making DMU a more sustainable university. The University League assesses institutions across a wide range of environmental and sustainability criteria so to be recognised in this way is fantastic."

Hannah Smith, who compiled the People and Planet University League, said:"We're particularly impressed with the work DMU is doing to evaluate the climate risks associated with their investments as well as a strong commitment to education for sustainability. People and Planet rate DMU as one of the UK's most progressive universities for environmental and ethical standards."

The full results are available on the People and Planet website.