Published on:
20
September 2010
Clackmannanshire Council has continued its innovative partnership with Stirling University Management School to work with two masters students on reducing carbon emissions.
William Stewart and Ewan MacGregor, both studying for an MSc in Energy Management, worked with Council staff on projects to cut emissions and costs. William's project aimed to reduce energy use by staff in offices by encouraging them to turn off computers and lights when not in use with an internal communications campaign. Ewan worked with the Council's Facilities Management team to come up with ways to replace gas boilers with ones using wood as fuel, allowing the Council to cut carbon and bills by growing its own fuel.
The students will be presenting their dissertations to officers shortly and the Council staff have been impressed with the work they've put in. Councillor Eddie Carrick, portfolio holder for sustainability, said: "I pleased to see our relationship with Stirling University going from strength to strength. Their students bring a fresh perspective to the Council and are able to work on projects that we can't always dedicate resources to. In return, I hope they gained in insight into the working environment and how to put their ideas into practice."
Both students have now passed their course with flying colours.
Dr Frans de Vries, Director of the MSc Energy Management programme said: "We aim at delivering a high-quality programme to develop the students' knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in energy management, but which also can be of direct benefit to society. Our successful partnership with Clackmannanshire Council through William and Ewan's dissertation projects is a prime example of this."
William Stewart, MSc Enery Management student said: 'It was a great opportunity to complete a dissertation for the council, using the knowledge gained from our course and our own personal experiences. Hopefully this is a partnership that can continue in the future, as it appears to be mutually beneficial for both parties involved.'