Sustainable smart cities – Sustainable Smart Cities

Working from home can be great. Working in ‘the office’ or on campus for me is also great. Sometimes I find myself in neither and working in those environments isn’t always great. Coffee shops or bars aren’t designed for focused work or privacy. That’s why I wanted to try out the ‘WorkFromHub’ in #Sheffield today. I’ve spent the afternoon here working as I would from home or the office and it’s been simple, straightforward and exceeded my expectations.

Conveniently located adjacent to Sheffield bus station and a 2 min walk from the city’s rail station and tram network, it’s perfect if you find yourself with an hour or so waiting time for a train. Or, if you have arrived into Sheffield and have time to kill before a meeting – it’s ideally suited.

It has all you need – it’s secure with a digital lock that you open with the code sent direct to your email when you book. Inside, it’s surprisingly spacious with good desk space, an easy HDMI compatible connection to an adjustable screen. There’s a desk lamp, 3-pin and USB sockets for power, a comfy chair and a second chair (yes, there is room for 2).

It’s like a tardis – with a sense of room and comfort that works well. Whilst you’re aware of what’s going on outside (and the odd rumble of a bus) it’s calm, quiet and discrete. The transfers on the windows mean people can’t see in but you’re benefitting from natural light. Even on a cool day, like today, it’s comfortable.

I would recommend it to those of you who commute – there are 3 sites all detailed on the website at: https://lnkd.in/efzBUuz2 and all managed through a very handy app.

I know my regular commuters will love it – why don’t you try it?

A commitment to join the city of Nottingham in its ambition to become carbon-neutral by 2028 and work in China and Malaysia to improve sustainability is just one of the stretching ambitions in the new University of Nottingham Strategy published this week (9th December 2019).

You can read more about the Strategy in a new blog by Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Andy Long who has led the work on its consultation and development.

I’ve worked for the University of Nottingham for the past 6 years and, in that time, the University has earned an excellent reputation for its commitment to sustainability. However, this commitment has never been as forthright as it is in the new University Strategy launched this week, nor has the bar ever been set so high.

Often University’s will produce the kind of strategy that could be ‘The University of Anywhere’ and crafting something that’s honest, recognisable and setting a clear course is a real challenge. We certainly felt that challenge – but I am delighted that our Executive Board and the University’s Council has made such important commitments to dealing with the global challenges of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the local challenge of becoming a zero carbon city by 2028. These commitments to embedding sustainability in our core business of teaching and research are the first time the University has done this. It has the full backing of our Board.

The easy way out for many organisations is to have a separate sustainability strategy which is unconnected to the core business objectives. By integrating these at an institutional level we’ll be working right across the five faculties where sustainability teaching and research takes place as well as across our professsional services who support the instituion across our campuses in the UK, China and Malaysia.

The Strategy places a particular emphasis on environmental sustainability, supporting the City of Nottingham’s desire to be a net zero carbon city by 2028 and working with partners in China and Malaysia to improve sustainability within their regions. This is without doubt a challenging ambition but one we must deliver on.

It does this with the confidence of knowing that our students and staff really want this to happen. Sustainability was one of the leading themes in the consultation exercises that informed the Strategy. It is clear that our University community wants all of us to be ambitious in tackling our greatest global challenge.

This commitment to carbon neutrality builds on our current contribution to research, investment decisions, collaborations and our behaviours on campus.

Placing the UN Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of our strategy illustrates that our reputation as Britain’s Global University means not only we have global connections but that we have a strong emphasis on find solutions to those global challenges. ur global research programme is supporting a more sustainable planet in developing, for example, renewable sources of energy, green propulsion systems, climate-resistant crops and a sustainable food supply. Significant carbon reduction research is conducted at our Ningbo campus and our Malaysia campus provides a world-leading field laboratory for research into environmental protection.

Elements of this blog were published previously on the University of Nottingham’s strategy blog pages.