During the recent accreditation assessment grading, the College was scored across ten different categories to judge its green credentials, including sustainable procurement, energy saving initiatives, waste minimisation and incorporation of eco features in new buildings and refurbishment projects.
Following the recent Audit, the Green Tourism Assessor highlighted a number of areas of excellence including new solar panels installed on Battcock Lodge with energy generated used in the construction process, the College herb garden, electric car charging points, Green Noticeboard outside the Porters’ Lodge and creation of a new green section on the Conference website.
Jon Procter, Green Tourism Chief Executive said: “Downing College has a well-focused team which demonstrates an ongoing commitment to being a leading green College. Building conservation work is excellent and includes winning the Considerate Contractor Award. Some great actions have been undertaken to maintain the Gold Award and raise scores even higher from the previous Audit two years ago.”
Jacqui Cressey, Head of Conference Services, added: “We are thrilled to have achieved a second Gold Award for our green performance to date and are looking forward to strengthening our commitment going forward. Achieving this Green Tourism accolade is an important driver for our conferences and events business where increasingly clients need to meet Corporate Social Responsibility criteria.”
Green Tourism is the world’s largest sustainable certification programme, with more than 2,000 members who are assessed every two years against a range of criteria relevant to their business type and subsequently awarded a grading.
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