Environment
Environment
The development and implementation of an EMS on the Wellcome Trust's Genome Campus to meet the requirements of ISO 14001 by way of BS 8555 had been undertaken in a well planned and effective manner. It was most striking that the system was Campus wide and all those interviewed were fully aware of their responsibilities and duties within it. From entering the site via the reception area it was immediately obvious that the system was intended to bring real environmental benefits, not only to the campus and those working on it, but to the wider community as well. The Campus had received awards for it's Green Travel Plan each year since 2002, this being but one example of how the development of the EMS to meet the requirements of ISO 14001 is only the latest in a long running series of initiatives to raise awareness and minimise the impacts the site has on the local and global environment. The commitment of top management to the system and the availability of resources to support it was readily apparent, and this coupled with the efforts of those who have developed and documented the system have resulted in an EMS that is extremely mature despite it only having been implemented fairly recently. All those involved are to be congratulated on their efforts and the results they have achieved. For a copy of the certificate click here.
Guidelines on Good Environmental Practice Adopted on the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus Introduction The Wellcome Trust’s mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. Such research is increasingly demonstrating that our health is affected, not only by our lifestyle and whether or not we are susceptible to illness, but also by our interaction with the environment in which we live and the chemicals and other substances to which we are exposed in our everyday lives. The Trust recognises that pollution can be a trigger to those susceptible to certain illnesses and, just as the research it funds aims to improve human health and well being, the Trust also seeks to conduct its activities so as to minimise its environmental impact. To view a copy of signed site Environmental Policy, please click here. Guidelines The Wellcome Trust and its subsidiary company Hinxton Hall Ltd (HHL) will:
Current application of the guidelines at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus Hinxton Hall Ltd (HHL) on behalf of the Trust already takes account of measures to reduce waste on the Campus by recycling:
The Campus is also concerned to choose contractors with a good reputation in this area and the disposal company currently used by the Campus was selected as a result of a tender process that specifically included their ability to recycle waste materials. The Campus also operates onsite waste compaction facilities, reducing the number of road trips involved in collecting Campus waste thereby saving fuel and airborne exhaust pollution. The Campus operates a building management system (BMS) that covers a wide range of environmental controls designed to reduce energy usage and regulate the use of resources including:
Environmental conditions were a key driver in the planning and design of the Campus extension buildings known as the Southfield Project and are now being actively taken into account in the design of a new extension for the European BioInformatics Institute (EBI). The plans for the Southfield Project were assessed by an environmental consultancy using the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method 2002) as guidance and were rated ‘Excellent’. Factors contributing to this excellent rating included:
The new EBI extension project has also received an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating based on a design stage appraisal. The Campus has adopted a Green Travel Plan that promotes the use of more sustainable modes of transport for Campus staff. Elements contributing toward the overall plan include:
Awards Received:
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