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Green Christmas for university

One of the North East’s universities is dreaming of a green Christmas this year. The University of Sunderland is hoping to make those dreams a reality by giving back to the environment exactly what it takes out over the festive season.

Environmental experts worked out that the lights on the university Christmas tree would emit a total of 600kg of carbon dioxide. They calculated that they could offset these emissions, and the emissions created by the transportation and eventual mulching of the Christmas tree, by planting another tree on site. University pro vice-chancellor Baroness Estelle Morris planted the first of five new trees - four silver birch trees and one bird cherry tree – on the university’s City Campus on Chester Road this week.

Sarah Legg, the university’s environmental coordinator, said: “The trees were chosen to compliment the species already in place, ensuring that there was a mix of species which aids biodiversity.”

Sunderland is one of the top universities in the UK for its commitment to cutting carbon emissions. In May this year environmental group the Carbon Trust recognised the University of Sunderland for its environmental efforts. The university has also signed up to the Higher Education Carbon Management Programme and is encouraging staff and students to think about how their actions affect the environment.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .