Environmental Management
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Carbon Cutting
1st October 2018 by Graeme Curran
Good News!! We recently received confirmation that our Carbon Trust triple standard recertification has been successful. We first achieved the triple standard in 2015. Recertification shows continued progress since then. Since 2015 we have upgraded lighting to LED across the estate, installed biomass boilers, optimised our heating by upgrading our building management systems, installed water...
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GDPR – a change to data protection law
24th May 2018 by Alaster Phillips
The General Data Protection Regulations comes into force on May 25, 2018, giving individuals more control over their personal data, and ensuring that organisations collect and process that information properly and securely. To find out more about GDPR, visit the Information Commissioner’s website.
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On reflection: Biodiversity in 2017
11th December 2017 by Rebecca Taylor
With autumn having turned to winter, and with the nights drawing in, now is a good time to look back on what we achieved this year, in supporting our objective to protect and enhance biodiversity on our estate. And it’s been a busy year! The Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Government took a keen interest in our...
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Earth Hour 2017
27th March 2017 by Graeme Curran
Earth Hour took place on Saturday (25 March) and the Scottish Government joined thousands across Scotland and millions across the world in taking part. Organised by WWF, Earth Hour aims to raise awareness of climate change and its impacts at home and across the globe. Now in its tenth year, the event encourages individuals, organisations...
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Keeping up the carbon-cutting momentum
11th August 2016 by Chris McGhee
We had some good news in the Environmental Management Team recently. On 26 July, we received confirmation that our application for triple recertification to the Carbon Trust Standard was successful. It’s great to have the work that is being done across the Scottish Government’s estate to reduce waste, CO2 emissions, and water use independently certified...
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The Scottish Government Celebrates WWF’s Earth Hour
15th March 2016 by Graeme Curran
On Saturday 19 March 2016, at 8.30pm The Scottish Government will join millions across the world to celebrate WWF’s Earth Hour and switch off their lights for one hour to show they care about the future of our brilliant planet. By joining the global celebration, The Scottish Government will take part in a symbolic moment,...
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SASA Guest Blog: The Wild Flowers
26th February 2016 by Jeremy Ede
Jeremy Ede is Chair of the Biodiversity Group at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA). He shares his story of how he and his colleagues created a wildflower meadow at the SASA headquarters on the outskirts of Edinburgh. With a world class laboratory, glasshouse and experimental farm facility, SASA is a community of around...
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Energy Efficiency Week (as part of Climate Week)
20th November 2015 by Rebecca Taylor
We all use energy in our everyday lives, and it is necessary for the work many of us do. It is easy to then dismiss the idea of saving energy in the workplace, especially if your work is mainly done on a computer. In the month of August at the five biggest Scottish Government sites...
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The Benefits of Car Sharing
14th September 2015 by Sarah Buchanan
Our Liftshare scheme offers employees a better chance of getting a parking space in our busy car parks, particularly useful if other commitments mean you begin work later in the morning. The Liftshare website has a dedicated Scottish Government private group where you can enter details of your journey and look for others going your...
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Making a Buzz at VQ!
31st August 2015 by Sarah Buchanan
Part of our Environmental Policy is a commitment to protect and enhance biodiversity on the Scottish Government estate. In June we introduced a bee hive at Victoria Quay in Leith to join the existing biodiversity pond and wildflower meadow there. Before the addition of the VQ hive there were already three hives within the Scottish...