Green University in the Czech Republic: Difference between revisions

In the last section of our study we would like to propose some solutions, which could be implemented at Czech universities. Cooperation with NGOs and municipality can facilitate the students’ initiative.  

Firstly, we would like to educate students and staff members in the field of sustainable development. We are planning to offer course at the university, which will be open for all faculties. Excursion to environmentally sustainable projects will be offered to most active students. Every year we will arrange the essay competition focused on this topic.  

Apart from educational program, we are planning to start several actions at the university. We identified huge potential within the mobility issue, where many different steps could be applied. Students and staff members can significantly reduce their ecological footprint by riding their bike on a way to university and around the entire town. Therefore, we should encourage them to do that and also improve the conditions for such activity.  

We will start with different campaigns explaining positives of cycling, which we identify not just in environmental, but also health issues. Students riding their bike on a way to school will be awarded by T-shirts presenting our campaigns. In the near future, we are also planning to realize some competitions, e.g. in a total number of kilometres ridden by members of different faculties.

Conditions for cycling around Czech towns and cities are not very well developed. We are planning to establish cooperation with municipal government to improve this situation.  Bike stands installed around the buildings of the university, together with facilities for service would be very helpful for cyclists. At some universities where students have to travel between different faculties, bike rental system should be developed together with bicycle paths connecting faculties and libraries.  

In addition to bike mobility, we are also planning to promote public transport, since there is not possibility for everybody to travel just by bike.  Public transport significantly reduces emissions and environmental impacts in comparison with private vehicles.  

Apart from mobility question, green university should also cope with other issues, such as waste management, procurement, food consumption, heating or electricity.  As we have already mentioned, heating and electricity matters appear to be quite difficult for the starting phase of the project. At the beginning, we will start with campaigns for electricity savings, because they can be easily achieved by the change of students´ behaviour. That´s why we are planning to attach posters next to light switchers. 

Recycling of materials is another very important tool in reducing the ecological footprint. It´s important so separate different kinds of waste at Czech universities, such as paper, plastics, aluminium and other metals, glass, Tetra pak, batteries or organic waste. Waste minimisation and reuse of waste are even more important steps that come before the recycling. We would like to convince students and staff members to change their behaviour in consonance with these concepts.  For example, we are planning to start a campaign promoting tap water instead of bottled one.  

Introduction of green procurement at Czech universities seems to be a difficult and time-demanding task. Students should try to convince their universities, canteens and cafeterias to choose environmentally friendly products, together with local and Fair Trade commodities. Libraries and staff members should use recycled paper and print on both sides, which is sometimes not happening these days.

Generally, there are many possibilities how to decrease ecological footprint of Czech universities and their members. Lot of inspiration can be found among the projects of foreign universities. We hope that our effort will raise the environmental awareness of our students and staff members, which will also affect their behaviour in everyday life.