Pictured above: Andrew Taylor, food and beverage
manager at Radcliffe training and conference centre, Warwick
Conferences.
Coventry based, Warwick Conferences, part of the University of
Warwick, has been awarded the internationally recognised IACC
(International Association of Conference Centers) Green Star
accreditation for its environmental policy.
Awarded silver status, Warwick Conferences demonstrated its
support of IACC's code of sustainability, which strives for a more
sustainable and environmentally responsible conferencing
industry.
For IACC members to achieve silver status they are required to
adhere to 75% of 55 rigorous environmental tenets, as outlined in
IACC's code of sustainability. The tenets include water
conversation, energy management, air quality and food and beverage
etc.
Andrew Taylor, food and beverage manager at Radcliffe training
and conference centre, Warwick Conferences comments: "Achieving
silver status is fantastic news. However, we want to prove that
we're the market leader when it comes to environmental policy, so
our next goal is gold, if not platinum. Our customers are extremely
aware of environmental issues, so they expect it to be embedded in
our ethos and daily practices.
"Whilst we've made a great start at Warwick, for example having
invested seriously into an extensive recycling programme and
putting incentives in place to encourage staff to cycle to work,
there are still improvements to be made. One of our biggest
projects this year is to work on the more effective use of energy
and water, tracking our energy consumption and evaluating where
wastage can be reduced.
"We're continuously looking to build on our good work so far -
the IACC Green Star Award is just the first in a number of green
accreditations we hope to achieve over the next 12 months."
Scoring 80% in its last assessment Warwick Conferences hopes to
increase its score to 85% to achieve gold status next year. So far
the venue has already heavily invested in its environmental policy
for the next five years with plans for improved roof insulation,
installation of further energy efficient lighting and sensor
activated lighting, and plans to invest in plumbed water coolers
for 2011.