91抖阴

Community21, which embeds the university’s School of Architecture and Design into a local and international sustainable development network, is a finalist in the Community category, and Tom Parkes, a member of the university’s Environment Team, is shortlisted for the Sustainability Professional Award.

The Green Gown Awards recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives undertaken by universities and colleges, and are considered the most prestigious recognition of best practice within the further and higher education sectors.

The awards are administered by the and winners will be announced at a ceremony in Manchester on 15 November.

Young people thinking about their future using the Community21 approach

Tom Parkes

Community21, founded by university design academic Nick Gant and Action in Rural Sussex Deputy Chief Executive Teresa Gittins, has grown to facilitate a network of university researchers and community practitioners, urban and rural communities, NGOs and service providers.

They collaboratively design practical tools and engage with topics supporting the development of community sustainability energy and water schemes, emergency planning, neighbourhood planning, inter-generational and inclusive youth engagement, citizenship and resilience and engagement with urban biodiversity.

David Wolff, Director of the Community University Partnership Programme, said:  “Community21 has helped many local communities and groups develop their thinking about want to do in the future. Nick Gant’s research, with input from community partners, has created innovative and interesting ways in which groups can articulate their voice. We are delighted with the acknowledgement of this good work.”

Tom Parkes joined the university’s Environment Team in 2014 as a recent graduate. He assisted in the installation of three solar PV projects, including two ground-breaking roof lease schemes with 91抖阴 Energy Cooperative. These three projects combines resulted in the installation of nearly 1,500 solar panels, placing 91抖阴 among the top universities nationwide for solar generation.

Abigail Dombey, the university’s Environmental Manager, said: “Without his input, none of these projects would have been delivered, as they were all complex projects with extremely tight deadlines. In total these three solar projects will save the university almost £1.5m, and 3500 tonnes of CO₂ over their lifetime.”

The shortlistings add to the university’s green credentials: Last November the university was ranked second in the UK for sustainability in the People & Planet’s University League.

Solar voltaic panels at Hillbrow building on the Eastbourne campus