Sustainable fun facts - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Sustainability is a priority at VU Amsterdam. Did you know that...?

Waste

... VU Amsterdam has opened the first on-campus worm hotel in the Netherlands on the roof of the Main Building? The worms inside are working hard to turn coffee grounds and other food waste into compost.
... used paper towels from the toilets are collected separately and processed to make construction panels? So, please don’t mix in any other waste! We now plan to roll out this successful pilot project more widely across the university.
... the entire VU Campus is a smoke-free zone? Despite this, there are still some people who choose to smoke near university buildings. We have therefore launched a pilot project aimed at collecting all cigarette butts for recycling, in view of the serious environmental contamination caused by littered cigarette butts leaching into groundwater.
... separate collection of Plastic and Drinks Cartons will reduce our residual waste stream further in the coming years (approx. 20-30% reduction in residual waste)? The first special recycling bins have been installed in the new study areas in the B wing of the Main Building. Other locations/buildings will follow shortly.
... we recently stopped providing free disposable cups at the coffee machines across campus? Cups and other SUPs (Single Use Plastics), such as plastic sandwich bags at the SPAR convenience store, are no longer provided free of charge. Reusable cups (with your name or university logo!) can be bought at the university’s copy centre (Repro), for example.
... there is a reverse vending machine (RVM) in the Main Building? You can insert a used can or plastic bottle into the RVM in exchange for your deposit. Alternatively, you can choose to donate the deposit to charity!

Energy

... 100% of the electricity we purchase comes from wind turbines and is therefore sustainably generated?
... the most sustainable energy is the energy you don’t use?
... the OZW building, New University building and soon the VU Research building are heated and cooled using an underground thermal energy storage (TES) system?
... the lifts in the Main Building and New University Building generate energy? This reduces lift energy consumption by roughly 5-10% annually.
... by 2040, gas consumption on campus - other than for research purposes - will be virtually zero?

Green Campus

... we have started the redevelopment of the Campus square? Among other things, a tiny forest will be planted.
... there is a green container on the Campus square where you can follow the progress of the redevelopment?
... there are several bee hotels on campus in the interest of promoting biodiversity?
... almost all our buildings have green/blue roofs to ensure biodiversity, water storage and cooling during warm months?
... we’re reducing our carbon footprint by giving our old furniture a second lease of life or by buying refurbished teaching and office furniture?