Sustainability at Home Awards
Many continue to spend time working and studying from home now that hybrid working is established. Make a positive impact even while off campus with the Sustainability at Home Awards, open to staff and students.
Gain recognition for home-based sustainability action
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Whether you are working from home regularly or occasionally, prefer to study at home, or are a distance learner, the Sustainability at Home Awards are designed to support your sustainability journey wherever you are located.
The scheme was formerly called the Working from Home Awards.
How it works
Featuring an accessible range of actions open to all staff and students across the whole University, the Sustainability at Home Awards can be completed at your own pace.
Using the framework and guide below, you will complete 10 criteria of your choice.
You can choose a range of actions or focus on areas where you want to make the biggest impact. Each action in this framework contributes to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Once completed, use the short Sustainability at Home checklist to tell us what you did and you will receive recognition for your achievement.
Complete your submission
In order to achieve the Award, please complete the following checklist to tell us which actions you undertook.
Once completed, we will review your submission and be in touch to confirm your achievement.
Complete the Sustainability at Home Awards form
Participants' guide
Welcome to the Sustainability at Home Awards!
With hybrid working now well established, and many students studying on and off campus, the Sustainability Awards continue to support those working remotely through the Sustainability at Home Awards (formerly the Working from Home Awards).
This Award scheme is an opportunity for staff and students from across the University to continue to take meaningful action towards sustainability wherever you work. It sits alongside the Sustainability Framework and Lab Awards, offering a way for members of the University to keep momentum in their sustainability journey, in a structured and supported format.
Whether you are working from home regularly or occasionally, studying remotely, or are a distance learner, we invite you to take part in this accessible Award, and continue to make a positive impact.
If you would like to discuss the Sustainability at Home Awards further, or have any questions, please contact Rachael.Barton@ed.ac.uk.
Sustainable Development Goals
As with the Sustainability Framework and Lab Awards, all of the criteria and actions in this framework contribute to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs aim to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
Beside each action you will find a link to take you to more information about that SDG.
We want the Sustainability at Home Awards to be as accessible as possible, with the focus on taking action in an effective and flexible way.
To take part in the Award, simply:
- Choose 10 or more actions from the list below
- Carry your actions out
- Then fill in this simple form to tell us what you did
- Tag us on social media to share photos, stories and updates of your progress!
X: @edsust | Facebook: EdinburghSustainability | Instagram: @uoe_sustainability
Once you have completed the online form, we will review your submission and get in touch to confirm your achievement. All successful participants will receive a certificate documenting your Award.
Timeline
There is no fixed timeline for the Sustainability Awards, and so you can complete the Award at your own pace. We would recommend trying to complete your actions within a six-month period.
Note – actions must have been carried out during the 2023 or 2024 calendar years (not restricted to the academic year).
Once you have completed the Sustainability at Home Awards, there are a wide range of further activities, projects and training courses you can get involved in.
Consider:
- Joining our other Sustainability Awards
- Joining the Sustainability Champions Network – open to both staff and students
- Taking a training course – such as Introduction to Sustainability, or Carbon Literacy Training
- Attending an event
Choose 10 or more of the following 27 actions to complete.
Communications and engagement
| Action | Links to Sustainable Development Goal |
|---|---|
|
Take an online training course e.g. Introduction to Sustainability, Carbon Literacy, Modern Slavery |
4. Quality education 12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action |
| Write a case study for SRS on previous initiatives | 13. Climate action |
| Join the Sustainability Champions Network | 13. Climate action |
| Attend SRS hosted online events | 13. Climate action |
| Calculate your personal carbon footprint (using the WWF tool) | 13. Climate action |
| Watch an environmental/social justice documentary | 13. Climate action |
| Volunteer – staff can use the special leave policy to take one day of leave per year to volunteer |
13. Climate action 17. Partnerships for the goals |
| Set up or maintain an online sustainability notice board or blog, sharing ideas and news with colleagues/other students/friends | 13. Climate action |
| Set up an office green team or sustainability committee for the department | 13. Climate action |
| Run a charity/fundraising activity | 10. Reduced inequalities |
Resource efficiency
| Action | Links to Sustainable Development Goal |
|---|---|
| Carry out comprehensive recycling of all paper, plastic, glass, metal and other materials | 12. Responsible consumption and production |
| Take steps to reduce food waste |
2. Zero hunger 12. Responsible consumption and production |
| Reduce use of single-use plastic e.g. food wrappers | 12. Responsible consumption and production |
Travel
| Action | Links to Sustainable Development Goal |
|
Give cycling or active travel a go, and consider for future journeys e.g. take a bike maintenance class, hire a bike, swap a journey to travelling by bike or walking instead of your usual method Staff Cycling Community Teams chatroom |
13. Climate action |
Energy
| Action | Links to Sustainable Development Goal |
| Turn off all electronic items when not in use, including at the end of the day and lunchtimes e.g. lights, monitors, computers/devices |
7. Affordable and clean energy 12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action |
| Only heat/cool the room you (and any other members of the household) use during the day |
7. Affordable and clean energy 12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action |
| Think of an idea for the Sustainable Campus Fund- draft a proposal, get departmental approval, submit an application |
7. Affordable and clean energy 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure 12. Responsible consumption and production |
Purchasing
| Action | Links to Sustainable Development Goal |
| Buy fair trade tea, coffee, sugar, hot chocolate for your breaks – from Fairtrade certified at supermarkets to specialist coffee delivery services |
1. No poverty 5. Gender inequality 8. Decent work and economic growth 10. Reduced inequalities 12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action 17. Partnerships for the goals |
| Buy more sustainable options for any necessary work/study items |
12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action |
Health & Wellbeing
| Action | Links to Sustainable Development Goal |
|
Include regular movement into your day - stretching, going for a walk, screen breaks Sport & Exercise have advice on staying active at home |
3. Good health and well-being |
| Set up a remote walking group | 3. Good health and well-being |
| Try more plant-based food options e.g. plant milk, vegan lunches |
2. Zero hunger 3. Good health and well-being 12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action 14. Life below water |
| Share healthy recipe ideas with others |
2. Zero hunger 3. Good health and well-being |
| Take part in mental wellbeing focused activities e.g. events/courses from the Chaplaincy |
3. Good health and well-being 10. Reduced inequalities |
|
Share resources and ideas for maintaining health and mental wellbeing with others |
3. Good health and well-being 10. Reduced inequalities |
| Grow something - plants, herbs, vegetables |
2. Zero hunger 3. Good health and well-being 13. Climate action 15. Life on land |
| Improve biodiversity where you live |
13. Climate action 15. Life on land |