An overview of ecological footprinting and other tools and their application to the development of sustainability process: Audit and methodology at Holme Lacy College, UK

Abstract

A sustainability audit of Holme Lacy College is described. The approach adopted a “triple bottom line” assessment, comprising a number of key steps: a scoping review utilising a revised Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors project appraisal tool; an environmental impact assessment based on ecological footprinting and a social and economic impact assessment. The college has a number of unsustainable features. Its ecological footprint is equivalent to 296 ha and some 866 tonnes of CO₂ were emitted from the site over a one‐year period. The social impact of the college and its staff is significant over a wide range of stakeholders and the region. The economic impact indicates that the college contributes up to £5.3 million to the local and regional economy.

Citation

Dawe, G.F.M., Vetter, A. and Martin, S. (2004), "An overview of ecological footprinting and other tools and their application to the development of sustainability process: Audit and methodology at Holme Lacy College, UK", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 5 No. 4, pp. 340-371. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370410561063