Overview of the week Held over the 25th-31st October 2010, Big
Green Week (BGW) was full of thought provoking, interactive and
enjoyable features which launched the University's commitment to
carbon reduction. One of the main exhibits, on view at the heart
of the campus, was the Carbon Cube, the first UK life-sized
depiction of a tonne of carbon dioxide, which at 599.48m3, was
larger than the average house. The average carbon footprint per
person in the UK is 10.92 tonnes of carbon dioxide whilst the
University emits the equivalent of over 30,000 tonnes every
year. The need to reduce carbon by 60% over the next 10 years
was the key message for the week. Students and staff were asked
to commit to this vision as well as play their part in making it
a reality. During the week, staff, students and visitors were
encouraged to calculate their own carbon footprint and relate it
to the Cube to comprehend just how much their lifestyle has an
effect on the environment. Each day of the week had a different
theme includi