How important is the environment to young people?

As homeowners begin to commit to increasing their energy efficiency in order to do their bit to halt climate change, how important is the environment to young people in the UK?

While young people across the country may have packed up their belongings in order to start out on the adventure of beginning university and possibly living independently for the first time, there may be something more than meeting new people and beginning their course on their minds.

Indeed, more students are starting to take the environment into consideration when they pick university, something one sector commentator is in agreement with.

Is energy efficiency important at universities?

Johnny Rich, editor of Push.co.uk, said: "[Students] feel it's only right that unis should play their part in trying to minimise the damage we do to our environment. In fact, as leaders in technology and innovation, they should be setting the standards for others to meet."

Indeed, universities and other institutes of higher education may find that putting funds towards sustainable and renewable power could help them boost energy efficiency and lower their gas and electricity bills.

And Mr Rich said that sending graduates out into the world without having learnt how everything they do can have an impact on the environment would "certainly be a betrayal of this notion of providing a 'universal' education".

This is because such students are set to play the roles of the leaders, managers and workers of the future.

Going green could save students cash

While keeping energy efficiency in mind could be good business practice for universities, it may also prove useful to the students themselves.

Indeed, as attending university is acknowledged to be a time when money may be tight for young people, taking care to ensure they do not leave their phone chargers plugged in, their laptops or televisions on stand-by or their heating on high could mean that students achieve cheaper gas and electricity bills.

Meanwhile, a consultation into ways into which further education establishments can reduce their carbon production is currently underway.

The joint project between HEFCE, Universities UK and GuildHE, is currently seeking thoughts and ideas on the way in which this can be done.