Events calendar: Switch Off Week
The following events were open to all University of Cambridge staff and students.
Monday 18th February
Raise awareness
When and where? Everywhere, all day
Put up posters and stickers in your Department or building to encourage staff and students to save energy. These are available by contacting environment@admin.cam.ac.uk. If you would like one or more student volunteers to help you please let us know.
View and request or download Switch Off Week Resources.
Environment and Energy Road Show
When and where? 8.30-14.30, Small Exam Hall, New Museums Site
Come and find us for conversation, merchandise and a play on the energy bike!
Lecture: 'Switching off so the poor can switch on'
When and where? 13.00-13.50, location: Hicks Room, University Centre, Granta Place, Mill Lane
Dr Douglas Crawford-Brown (Director, Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR)) will present a talk on the issue of how our switching off at Cambridge can in part drive down our own carbon emissions, but also provide some 'head-room' so the poor in underdeveloped nations can gain access to power for their own lives.
If you are planning on attending please let us know on environment@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Tuesday 19th February
Pledge tree and coffee morning
When and where? Anywhere, any time. How about in your Porters' Lodge, or Department foyer or communal staff area?
Grow a 'pledge tree' within your Department or College for people to pledge what they will do to save energy at work/ College. This could be done in a number of ways from something as simple as drawing a tree on a piece of paper to tying pledges onto an office plant or a tree. Encourage staff and students to contribute a pledge and display the tree where it can be seen, such as your reception area or coffee room. You may like to combine this with a coffee morning.
Environment and Energy Road Show
When and where? 8.30-14.30, Institute for Manufacturing, West Cambridge Site
Come and find us for conversation, merchandise and a play on the energy bike!
Exemplar sites – Centre for Mathematical Sciences
When and where? Meet at 13.00 at the reception of the Centre for Mathematical Sciences
Take a guided tour around the Centre for Mathematical Sciences with Facilities Manager and Departmental Environmental Coordinator (and Energy Champion!), Mick Young, to find out how they use your Building Management System to reduce energy-use and save money. Mick will also cover an overview of their 10:10 campaign looking at the successes, legacy and outcomes of this campaign. Meet at the reception of CMS at 1.00pm.
If you are planning on attending please let us know on environment@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Wednesday 20th February
Lunchtime Switch Off
When and where? At your desk between 12.00-14.00.
A focused push to see how much electricity can be saved over lunchtime. Please encourage everyone to switch off their PC, lights and any other unnecessary equipment when they take their lunch break. We'll be monitoring the University's electricity consumption between 12.00 and 14.00 – let's try to use less over this lunchtime than on a typical day.
Environment and Energy Road Show
When and where? 8.30-14.30, School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital site
Come and find us for conversation, merchandise and a play on the energy bike!
Exemplar sites – Gurdon Institute
When and where? Meet at 1.00pm at the reception of the Gurdon Institute.
Take a guided tour around Gurdon Institute with Kathy Hilton, Building Facilities Manager and Energy Champion, to find out how their behaviour change campaigns have won them a Green Apple award for their innovative energy savings! The talk will cover: the need to change behaviour; engaging people; maintaining momentum.
If you are planning on attending please let us know on environment@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Film: 'Beyond the Brink'
When and where? 12.30-1.15pm, Judge Business School, Lecture Theatre LT1
Join us for this showing of a young filmmaker's take on the climate change debate. Please arrive promptly: the 40-minute film will start at 12.35. University staff and students will not need to sign in at the JBS Reception.
Take a look at the 'Beyond the Brink' website
Thursday 21st February
'Thermal Thursday': wear a jumper to work
When and where? Everywhere, all day
You thought they were just for Christmas but you get another chance to wear your favourite festive woolly or even that one your auntie knitted you that has never been worn. Encourage staff and students to wear a jumper to work.
Dressing for the weather by wearing warm clothing in winter saves energy on heating requirements. Send your photos of the most fun, sensible or hideous jumpers to environment@admin.cam.ac.uk. The best will be shared on our Twitter feed (@CambridgeSust) and there will be prizes at the end of the week.
Environment and Energy Road Show
When and where? 09.00-14.30, Entrance Foyer, Faculty of Law, Sidgwick Site
Come and find us for conversation, merchandise and a play on the energy bike!
Exemplar sites – Engineering
When and where? Meet at 13.00 at the reception of the Department of Engineering, Trumpington Street
Take a tour around the Department of Engineering with Ian Slack, Safety Officer and Departmental Environmental Coordinator, to see how they have combined technological advances with research to improve their teaching, reduce their carbon footprint and save energy.
If you are planning on attending please let us know on environment@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Friday 22nd February
Environment and Energy Road Show
When and where? 09.00-14.30, Judge Business School, Old Addenbrooke's Site
Come and find us at the Judge Business School on our final day, for conversation, merchandise & a last chance to play on the energy bike!
The BIG WEEKEND SWITCH OFF!
Please remember to switch off all equipment that will not be needed over the weekend.
- Personal workstation: computer, printer, heater, lamp
- Communal areas: printers, scanners/photocopiers, lights, heating, paper shredders, laminators, vending machines
- Kitchen area: kettle, microwave, toaster, lights
- Meeting rooms: computers, projectors, lights, heating, drinks machines.
Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February
We'll be monitoring the University's electricity consumption over the weekend and hope to use less electricity than the previous weekend. The results will be announced on Monday.
Summary of events
| Date | Monday 18 February |
Tuesday 19 February |
Wednesday 20 February |
Thursday 21 February |
Friday 22 February |
| Events taking place in departments across the University | Launch! Have you got your posters and stickers? (Email the Environmental Office) |
Pledge tree and coffee morning | Lunchtime Switch Off | 'Thermal Thursday': wear your best/worst jumper to work | Big Weekend Switch Off |
| Central events, open to all | 13.00: Professor Doug Crawford-Brown, 'Switching off so the poor can switch on' | 13.00: Exemplar site – CMS 'open lunchtime' | 12.30: Film - 'Beyond the Brink', Judge Business School 13.00: Exemplar site – Gurdon 'open lunchtime' |
13.00: Exemplar site – Engineering 'open lunchtime' | |
| Road Show locations | Small Exam Hall, New Museums Site | Institute for Manufacturing, West Cambridge | Clinical School, CUH (ground floor) | Law Faculty Atrium, Sidgwick Site | Judge Business School Reception area |