A new study examined more than 100 UK higher education institutes to find those that are leading the way in green travel and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

The money.co.uk survey put the Bristol in the top 10 of UK universities; the highest grade possible, as the survey ranked universities in groupings of 10.

Campuses were graded on the number of bicycle spaces and the number of EV charging points compared to regular car parking spaces.

The University currently has a total of over 3,800 cycle parking spaces for staff and student use, and a total of 13 EV charging points dedicated to University departmental fleet vehicles (except at Langford where charging is also available to staff).   

Money.co.uk described Bristol’s “efforts towards sustainable transport and electric vehicle accessibility” as “outstanding”.

This is the latest in a long line of green awards to be added to the University’s roster, including: the Earth Champions Award, the Bristol Post’s Green Public Sector Award and an award from the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF).

Erik Lithander, the University of Bristol’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, said: “It is hugely pleasing to be named in the top tier of this sustainability survey.

“Our sustainability team, with the help of students and the Students’ Union, has been working extremely hard to make the University of Bristol as green as possible. Awards like this prove that what we are doing is working.”

In April 2019, Bristol become the first UK University to declare a Climate Emergency. It has also pledged to become a net carbon neutral campus by 2030.

Bristol University’s Cabot Institute for the Environment produces world-leading research on the environment and sustainability.

According to money.co.uk, a comparison site for financial products, 94% of students are actively looking to reduce their environmental footprint.

Salman Haqqi, from money.co.uk, said: “The University of Bristol’s outstanding efforts towards sustainable transport and electric vehicle accessibility has earned it a well-deserved place in the elite A+ League in the rankings.

“Both the A League and A+ League are reserved for universities which are making substantial, exceptional efforts towards sustainable transport. However, the A+ League represents the universities which are going over and above ‘best in class’ and are truly setting the bar.

“Scoring in the top 10% of all UK Universities, sharing a spot in the A+ League demonstrates the great strides the University of Bristol is making through investing in a greener future for students and staff, with the money.co.uk EV University League recognising the university as a leader in the field.”

The full study, data and ranking criteria can be found on the study page. See below for an infographic.