Get your update on all the latest happenings in Buildings and Estates: B & E Newletter No. 3

Read UCC's Green Campus Newsletterand get involved!‌‌

Work began on Wednesday 6th July on a one-stop shop for most student services in an extension to one of University College Cork’s oldest buildings - the Windle Building.

More can be read about the extension on the Irish examiner 

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ucc-to-create-student-hub-in-15m-extension-408693.html

Follow: http://studenthub.ucc.ie/ to keep up to date with all aspects of the development. 

On Friday 17th June, President Michael Murphy launched the 2016 UCC Sustainability Strategy.  UCC is regarded as Ireland's 'Green University' and in combination with the University's Strategic Plan 2013-2017 the implementation of this Sustainabilty Strategy will further enhance this reputation and performance.

UCC's Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy in Ringaskiddy was featured on last Tuesday's Eco Eye. Click on the RTÉ Player link below and coverage starts from 6 mins onwards. 

The UCC General Services team have raised an incredible €9259 for Cork Penny Dinners.

Birgit Greiner recently became the 700th person to purchase a bike through the Cycle-to-Work Scheme here in UCC since the scheme started in 2009.

The new Beaufort Research Centre will officially be opened on Saturday, 11th July 2015 by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

UCC are proudly supporting Cork Bike week 2015 which runs from 13th June to 21st June 2015 as part of National Bike Week.

UCC retains 2nd place in University of Indonesia Green Metric University Rankings 2015

Ireland's first intervarsity Bioblitz 1st-2nd May at UCC - 24 hours to record every species on UCC Campus!!!

24 Hours to record every species on campus

How many species will you record?

7 Universities nationwide

Most Biodiversity recorded wins

This is the time of year when birds occupy much of our time on this programme. We have boxes strategically placed in locations throughout the country – and we’re watching closely as birds begin to nest and hopefully start laying their eggs.

Any day now we can expect to see Swifts beginning to arrive from Africa, and in UCC they’re running a project to attract these birds to nest in boxes they have attached to university buildings.

First of all thank you very much to all of you who have already responded to the survey and submitted the questionnaire. Feedback rates to date are quite promising, though we might need some more.

As a reminder: The UCC STAFF travel survey is still open. The more responses / submitted questionnaires we get, the more valid the results will be.

Heritage Officer, Cork County Hall wishes to advise the following upcoming heritage events as follows,

Parking restrictions in place Wed 5th March 2014 at rear of Aula Maxima

Check out the list of events taking place in the City and County over the next few weeks advised by Cork City Council Heritage Unit,

Tuesday 25th Feb 2014 - workshops and seminars held from 12-2pm today, Wednesday National Spring Clean-Meet in Amphitheatre 3-5pm,

Check out our poster of events this "Green Week" 24th to 28th Feb 2014

With the zeal of a Tidy Towns contender, UCC’s annual Green Week kicks off from Monday 24-28 February, with live wildlife displays, green walls and a river cleanup promising to sustain the conversation around being kind to our environment.

In light of the present weather conditions all lectures are cancelled for the remainder of the day.

Due to deteriorating weather conditions and the dangers associated with the risk of falling slates, branches and debris. Please do not leave the building you are in.

They are forecasting Stormy conditions during today, Wednesday 12th Feb, with Southerly winds of 60 to 70 km/h  gusting to 120 km/h, veering westerly by late morning. Winds will increase 75 to 85km/h and will gust 130 to 160 km/h. High Seas also. Valid from 06:00 Wednesday 12-February-2014 until 15:00 Wednesday 12-February-2014.

€1 million has been saved in the past 5 years due to Green Campus initiative. The student led, research informed and practice focused green initiative has given UCC the opportunity to take a forward step in changing actions in sustainability.

Held in Belfast in March 1914, ‘The Balmoral Brawl’ became known as the most violent match ever held between Wales and Ireland.

The river walkway connecting Main Campus to Distillery Fields and the North Mall will remain closed on Friday, 14 Feb, ONLY. 

This is to facilitate urgent repair works to a data cable connection along the Mardyke footbridge.

Buildings & Estates department wishes Ross every success in his new appointment

Cork City Council have issued a Tidal Flood Alert for the low-lying areas of the city with particular emphasis on this evenings high tide due at 20:53 hrs.

Check out the new website namely Green Campus http://www.ucc.ie/en/greencampus/ which will work in conjunction with the Buildings & Estates department and BEES department.

The e-mail address for the Buildings office helpdesk was out of order but is operational again from 3.15pm Tuesday 21st January 2014.

UCC has climbed to 2nd place in the Universitas Indonesia (UI) GreenMetric World University Rankings

The Buildings & Estates department, UCC are now on Twitter and Facebook

https://twitter.com/UCCBandE

https://www.facebook.com/uccbuildingsandestates?ref=hl

Buildings & Estates added a new map showing the locations of facilities available to Nursing Mothers/Baby Changing and First Aid locations

The new Park and Ride timetable effective from 6th January 2014 is available to print off now

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Pedestrain gate at Western end of Western Gateway Building  - closing time has resumed back to normal time.

BCS transition year students made a recycling bin aimed at primary school kids, when you place your recycling in it, it talks to you.  My niece Amy Brennan was involved with the mini company project and they won Best Innovation prize and 1st prize overall at the South Cork Schools Enterprise programme last week. 

UCC Green Campus Environmental Award

University College Cork’s Green Campus programme was awarded the 2013 CEF Environmental Award (category Public Sector) by Cork Environmental Forum at an awards ceremony at Firkin Crane Cork on 5th December 2013.

UCC Receive IBEC Award 2013 (runner up prize)

UCC/Tyndall were selected as a Finalist in the Sustainable Energy Awards 2013.

To celebrate 10 years of the Awards, 10 organisations had been selected as finalists in the Legacy Category and UCC/Tyndall were selected.

As a reminder, application deadline for the 2014 Tax Saver travel pass tickets is this coming Friday 22nd Nov.

Please see email below and follow the link to the prices. E.g. one year of unlimited travel on all Cork City and Suburban buses for €1,012, City buses only for €814.

That's as little as €2,50 (€2,00 respectv.) a day, based on 200 working days and tax savings on the higher tax level. 2,50 of petrol will only take you as far as 20km (round trip), and that's only the petrol cost for the car.

There are restrictions on truck movements on campus.  In order to minimise risk, it is necessary to have all truck deliveries completed and off campus before 8am.  Truck deliveries arriving on campus after 7.45am will be turned away.  Vans will continue to be given access during the day, however, we would ask that where possible these deliveries be completed by 8am also.

SEAI to support 22 energy efficiency projects to deliver up to €7 million annual energy savings and support over 500 jobs.

UCC, one of the first public bodies in the world to achieve ISO 50001 certification, has an on-going programme to retrofit their facilities.  The specific exemplar project aims to utilise the ESCO model to strategically retrofit the electrical and mechanical facilities in a number of campus buildings.

The shortlist for the 2014 European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) has been revealed, following a two-day jury meeting in Rome, Italy. The 16 finalists come from 10 countries and University College Cork has been chosen as one of the finalists. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Lyon on 1st December 2014 at the Pollutec exhibition of environmental technologies in Lyon, France. The European Business Awards for the Environment are awarded to eco-innovation companies that successfully combine innovation, competitiveness and outstanding environmental performance.