Over the winter break we were determined to create positive impact while most of us weren’t even on campus. This is where the Winter Holiday Switch Off campaign came into play, encouraging staff and students to come together to switch off non-essential equipment and lights over the 9-day closure to help tackle the climate crisis and save money.
Winter holiday switch off 2024
This year, we were delighted to have over 140 staff and students from more than 25 different departments pledging to switch off over the winter break. This is a fantastic increase from last year, so thank you to everyone who pledged to take part.
Collectively, we can drive a more sustainable future through taking impactful actions that go beyond switching off for the winter break. Here at Bath, we are committed to empowering our community with the knowledge and skills to ignite impactful action both at home and at the University. To get you started, here are a few simple steps to take energy saving further:
- embrace the power of teamwork in leading sustainable change by joining Green Impact, the University’s new staff sustainability programme
- contribute to a greener future by saving energy in university accommodation and private student housing, discover how using less energy will save you money along the way
- embed sustainable practices in your lab through LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) and see the difference you can make in energy, water and plastic savings
- discover how you can make a difference as a student at Bath by joining V Eco and EcoTogether and learn simple steps to help create a sustainable future for all
The University is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and to achieve this we must collectively work together to foster a sustainable culture at Bath. We are determined to embed sustainability in every aspect of our University; to see our progress, check out our latest Sustainability Annual Report.
Thanking our community
To show our appreciation to those who pledged to switch off this winter break, we held a prize draw of two £20 Bath gift vouchers to those who pledged to switch off. Congratulations to our two lucky prize draw winners.
Staff winner Laura Michelsen-Cooney, Science Technical Services Technician, shared her thoughts on the switch off campaign: ‘I think it’s a great idea to get into the habit of switching off non-essential items when not in use, it’s really just best practice. We have a lot of instruments in the teaching lab, but it’s quite easy to get into a routine of switching off what you can at the end of the day, and it’s good to know you’re consuming fewer resources and saving money. The campaign was helpful to raise people’s awareness of this, and to encourage everyone to develop good habits.’
Student winner and Social sciences student Kat Rees, pledged: ‘I will make sure that all the lights and unused appliances in my home are switched off at the plug. I will conserve energy by being efficient with my washing, bathing and kettle use. I will use my heating sparingly, using blankets and extra layers’.
We were inspired by the diverse variety of pledges received from our community and we particularly enjoyed the creative ways people committed to switching off. We absolutely love this video from Anna Tassie and Nina Patel in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Looking to the year ahead, we are excited to build on the success of the campaign and push for bigger cost and carbon savings over the upcoming Easter break. Together, we can drive the change needed to reach our net zero targets and build a sustainable future.
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