This decision does not mark a major policy shift in how the university buys energy but is symptomatic of the changing market realities in the energy sector (aided by the presently enormously high price of oil) leading to it being more and more common for large organisations to buy into a greener future. It is also in part due to student awareness raising and campaigning on the issue which made it obvious that there are institutional reputational costs as well as purely fiscal ones involved in any such decision.

Where now? Well, when this contract is renewed again in 2006 i will no longer be here and it falls to the next generation of students to make sure the uni doesn't slip backwards on this issue. The best hope is that the university will change its internal policy to place greater emphasis on its own environmental policy and plan and hence be structurally committed to a greener future, not just because it is cost neutral but because it is the best future.

If you are interested in getting involved in the student campaign on this or any other issue please email me.

Cheers

Tom R