Be energy friendly this Winter

Images from the University of Oxford 'Be energy friendly' campaign. The bones of the dinosaur pulling a light switch, with the words 'Light off' underneath. A statue holding a kettle and a cup of tea with the words 'Boil less' underneath. The Radcliffe Camera with lights wrapped around it with the words 'Switch off' underneath. An Emperor head statue wearing a jumper with the words 'Layer up' underneath. A tortoise with snoozing laptop on its back with the words 'Power down' underneath.

Be Energy Friendly

Last winter, the University community worked together to reduce its energy use. This resulted in an amazing 17% reduction in gas consumption over the winter months, representing an emissions reduction of 3,400 tCO2e and financial savings of £1.1M. These savings contributed to the University reaching its environmental sustainability ambitions which are in line with EU and World Health Organisation guidance for heating buildings.

The University Sustainability team is calling on staff and students to be energy friendly again this winter and has suggested the following tips which are linked to the campaign:

  • Lights off: turn off the lights if you’re the last one to leave the room
  • Boil less: only boil as much water as you need (this could save £3 per day per kettle)
  • Layer up: bring a jumper for comfort during the winter months
  • Switch off: turn off appliances at the socket when not in use, and keep electric heaters off for good (they consume up to £1 of energy per hour and can increase the risk of fires)
  • Power down: turn off your computer and screen at the end of the working day, and make sure your computer is set to ‘hibernate’ if you’re away from your desk. Find out more about how much energy this can save.

Learn more about the Campaign and discover further energy saving suggestions on the University of Oxford Sustainability web pages.

Infographic of a mobile phone with a power switch highlighted on the screen. A cable is attached to the phone. In the bends of the winding cable are the words 'Energy saving tips in the library'

Please follow some of our local energy saving tips when you are in the library. Here are a few to help reach this year’s University-wide energy reduction goal:

  1. Charged up your laptop and mobile devices? Unplug when charged and switch off when not in use.
  2. Enable power saving settings on your laptop – do this once, then save energy without even thinking about it. And a great battery saving tip is to reduce the screen brightness on your mobile phone & laptop.
  3. Finished using a library PC? Log out and switch off to save energy.
  4. Using one of our Discussion Rooms? Remember to switch off the lights when you are finished and turn off the lamps in the carrels when you leave too.
  5. Stay cosy longer in the library and wear extra layers. And remember you can bring in a hot drink in a re-usuable cup to avoid spills and stay warm.

Great Green Reads Book Display

Read widely, live lightly!

To celebrate the University’s first ever Green Action Week (20-24 February 2023) we have put together a display of Great Green Reads from the Social Science Library’s collections.

We asked SSL staff and those involved with sustainability throughout the University to share their favourite green reads.  The display includes books that inspired action, changed perspectives on nature, or gave greater insight into environmental issues and potential solutions.

To come and browse the books, pop in to the SSL at any time during our opening hours, from Monday 20 February – Friday 17 March.  We are open to all members of the University and are located in the Manor Road Building.

The books are listed below, with those titles where recommenders were kind enough to share a few words appearing at the top of the list.

Click the title to be taken to the SOLO record for the book where you can access the online version if available, see if other libraries hold copies, or request the book if it is out on loan.

Doughnut economics : seven ways to think like a 21st century economist / Kate Raworth.  2018.  SSL shelfmark: HB75.RAW 2018

Recommended by Kate Trinkaus, DPhil student, Dept. of Physics, who says “University of Oxford economist Kate Raworth proposes a model for economics with a new goal: meeting every person’s needs while protecting the living planet that sustains us — as opposed to our current economic models which are based on the goals of accumulating wealth and infinite growth.  She details how these previous economic theories came to be and how they aren’t serving humanity, what getting into the Doughnut – the safe zone for humanity – looks like, how humans actually operate and what we need, and how to implement these new principles and goals in reality.”

SmallIsBeautiful1973.jpg

Small is beautiful : a study of economics as if people mattered / E.F. Schumacher.  1973.  SSL shelfmark: HB171.SCH

Recommended by John-Paul Clough, Brasenose College, who says “This is an oldie but a goodie (from the 1970s)

Capitalism in the web of life : ecology and the accumulation of capital / Jason W. Moore.  2015.  SSL shelfmark: HD75.6.MOO 2015

Recommended by Morgan, Social Science Library, who says: “Jason Moore argues against the simplifying term of the anthropocene, where ‘the historical-geographical patterns of differentiation and coherence are erased in the interests of narrative simplicity’ (p.171).  His arguments are extraordinarily helpful for pointing out the flaws in environmental studies which have lead to the conclusion that only certain technological components of 21st century life need be opposed.  Instead, Moore identifies our opponents as ‘the relations of power, capital, and nature that rendered fossil capitalism so deadly in the first place.’ (p.172)

Finntopia : what we can learn from the world’s happiest country / Danny Dorling and Annika Koljonen.  2020.

Recommended by Jo Gardner, Social Science Librarian, who says “The Finnish landscape is dominated by lakes and forest, and I envy the people their tradition of spending their summers in a lakeside cottage surrounded by nature.  The authors of this book refer to this, and go on to describe Finland as a country at the forefront of initiatives to reduce, mitigate and adapt to climate change. It is an uplifting book, beautifully and accessibly written.

All we can save : truth, courage, & solutions for the climate crisis / edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Katharine K. Wilkinson.  SSL shelfmark: QC903.2.U6.ALL 2021

Recommended by Kate Trinkaus, DPhil student, Dept. of Physics, who says “All We Can Save is an anthology of writings by 60 women at the forefront of the climate movement who are harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward.  It covers everything from climate justice to indigenous wisdom to eco-anxiety, and the contributors are from a wide range of disciplines but all are working towards this shared goal of regenerating our planet.  It’s my personal favourite climate-related book as it helps us all find a sense of direction in the climate movement.

Rambunctious garden : saving nature in a post-wild world / Emma Marris.  2011.  SSL shelfmark: QH75.MAR 2011

Recommended by Jo Gardner, Social Science Librarian, who says “This optimistic book is not about gardening. It is more about how we need to redefine ‘nature’ and ‘wilderness’ and managing human intervention. Emma Marris proposes that our limited conservation budgets be put towards creating sustainable ecosystems, not towards restoring them to some ancient baseline.  She argues that it is time to look forward and create the “rambunctious garden,” a hybrid of wild nature and human management.”

Drawdown : the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming / edited by Paul Hawken.  2018.  SSL shelfmark: TD171.75.DRA 2018

Recommended by Kate Trinkaus, DPhil student, Dept. of Physics, who says “The book that launched Project Drawdown: a non-profit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline, thereby halting catastrophic climate change—as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible.  They reviewed hundreds of climate solutions based on the amount of emissions they avoid or sequester, their upfront cost, cost savings, and scalability, and then ranked them —proposing the first comprehensive plan to reverse global warming.”

Braiding sweetgrass : indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants / Robin Wall Kimmerer.  2013.  SSL shelfmark: E98.P5.KIM 2015

 

World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse / Lester Brown.  2011.  SSL shelfmark: GE149.BRO 2011

 

 

No one is too small to make a difference / Greta Thunberg.  2019.  SSL shelfmark: GE195.7.THU 2019

 

 

How bad are bananas? : the carbon footprint of everything / Mike Berners-Lee. 2010.  SSL shelfmark: GE196.BER 2010

 

 

Less is more : how degrowth will save the world / Jason Hickel.  2020.  SSL shelfmark: HC79.E5.HIC 2020

 

 

Waste and want : a social history of trash / Susan Strasser.  2000.  SSL shelfmark: HD9975.STR 2000

 

 

There Is No Planet B

There is no Planet B : a handbook for the make or break years / Mike Berners-Lee.  2020.  (Online only)

 

 

Silent spring / Rachel Carson.  1962.  SSL shelfmark: QH545.P4.CAR

 

 

Feral : searching for enchantment on the frontiers of rewilding / George Monbiot.  2013.  SSL shelfmark: QL83.4.MON 2013

 

 

Wilding : the return of nature to a British farm / Isabella Tree.  2019.  SSL shelfmark: QL83.4.TRE 2019

 

 

Do you have a favourite green read?  Let us know in the comments below!

Global Recycling Day, Friday 18 March

Did you know that today is Global Recycling Day? Here in the SSL we have clearly labelled waste points located around the library to help you easily separate your waste into General Waste and Dry Mixed Recycling.

Bin with sections for dry mixed recycling and general wasteNot sure what goes where?  Please check the signs by the bins.

We know recycling can get a bit complicated so if an item doesn’t fall into any of the categories on the Dry Mixed Recycling sign, please put it in the General Waste bin. 

These items should always go in General Waste:

  • Sweet and chocolate bar wrappers
  • Tissues, serviettes, and paper towels
  • Packaging contaminated with food

If in doubt, please leave it out!  Bags of recycling contaminated with these items have to be rejected and disposed of as General Waste instead.

To find out more about recycling and waste at the University, take a look at the Environmental Sustainability Team’s Waste Management page.

Thank you for keeping the SSL green and helping us recycle as much as possible.

Think Climate: get involved

We can all make individual changes to our behaviour, by taking simple energy saving actions for example, and we can inform ourselves about climate change, but by joining with others we can achieve much more and have fun as well!

You could sign up for the Oxford Carbon Challenge or take part in Green Impact via your department or college.

These and many other green initiatives are run by the University’s Environmental Sustainability Team.

Think Climate: read up

Climate Change Book Display

Be inspired and informed by our selection of books on climate change and the social sciences, chosen by our Subject Consultants.  Click on the title to read the online version (you may need to sign in to SOLO with your Oxford Single Sign-On) or pop in to the Social Science Library (SSL) to see the books on display next to our New Books.

To find more books on climate change, both online and in print in the SSL and other Oxford libraries, search SOLO.

General

Climate change : a very short introductionMark Maslin. 4th ed. 2021.

SSL shelfmark: QC981.8.G56.MAS 2021

 

Oxford handbook of climate change and society / edited by John S. Dryzek, Richard B. Norgaard and David Schlosberg.  2011.

SSL shelfmark:QC903.OXF 2011

 

Routledge handbook of climate change and society / C. Lever-Tracy.  2010.

SSL shelfmark: GE149 ROU 2010

 

Geography

The climate demon : past, present, and future of climate prediction / R. Saravanan.  2022.

SSL shelfmark:  QC995.46.SAR 2022

 

Surviving climate chaos : by strengthening communities and ecosystems / Julian Caldecott.  2021.

SSL shelfmark:  QC903.CAL 2021

 

The great melt: accounts from the frontline of climate change / Alister Doyle.  2021.  (Print only – not available as an ebook)

SSL shelfmark:  QC981.8.G56.DOY 2021

 

Global warming: understanding the forecast / David Archer.  2007.

SSL shelfmark: QC981.8.C5 ARC 2007

 

Climate change : what everyone needs to know / Joseph Romm.  2nd ed.  2018.

SSL shelfmark: GE149 ROM 2016 (1st ed.)

 

Forced Migration and International Development

Climate Change, Disasters, and the Refugee ConventionClimate change, disasters, and the refugee convention / Matthew Scott.  2020.  (Temporary ebook access until 30 May 2022)

 

 

Environmental conflicts, migration and governance / Tim Krieger, Diana Panke, and Michael Pregernig.  2020.

 

 

Handling climate displacement / Khalid Hassine.  2019.  (Temporary ebook access until 30 May 2022)

SSL shelfmark: K3585.5.HAS 2019

 

Linking gender to climate change impacts in the Global South / Shouraseni Sen Roy.  2018.

SSL shelfmark: QC903.SEN 2018

 

 

 

Climate change, and displacement: multi-disciplinary perspectives / Jane McAdam.  2010.

SSL shelfmark: JV6346.CLI 2010

 

Climate change and energy insecurity: the challenge for peace, security and development / Felix Dodds.  2009.

SSL shelfmark: GE149 CLI 2009

 

Politics and International Relations

European Foreign Policy in a Decarbonising World

European foreign policy in a decarbonising world : challenges and opportunities / Sebastian Oberthür, Dennis Tänzler, Gauri Khandekar,  Emily Wright.  2021.

 

Introduction to modern climate change / Andrew E. Dessler.  3rd ed.  2021.

SSL shelfmark: QC981.8.C5 DES 2021

 

Climate of the middle : understanding climate change as a common challenge / edited by Arjen Siegmann.  2022.

 

 

Taming the Big Green Elephant / Ariel Macaspac Hernández.  2021.

 

 

Climate change and the future of democracy / R. S. Deese.  2019.

 

 

Political theory and global climate action : recasting the public sphere / Idil Boran.  2019.

 

 

NATO, climate change, and international security / Tyller Lippert.  2019.

 

 

Climate crisis and the democratic prospect : participatory governance in sustainable communities / Frank Fischer.  2017.

SSL shelfmark: GE170.FIS 2017

 

Power in a warming world : the global politics of climate change and the remaking of environmental inequality / David Ciplet et al.  2015.

SSL shelfmark: GE170 CIP 2015

 

Why are we waiting? : the logic, urgency, and promise of tackling climate change / Nicholas Stern.  2015.

SSL shelfmark: QC903.STE 2015

 

The politics of climate change / Anthony Giddens.  2nd ed.  2011.  (Print only – not available as an ebook)

SSL shelfmark: QC903.GID 2011

 

Sociology

The social construction of climate change : power, knowledge, norms, discourses / edited by Mary E. Pettenger.  2007.

SSL shelfmark: GE 149 SOC

 

Debating climate change : pathways through argument to agreement / Elizabeth L. Malone.  2009.

SSL shelfmark: GE149 MAL 2009

 

Economics

The economics and politics of climate change / edited by Dieter Helm and Cameron Hepburn.  2009.

SSL shelfmark: QC903.ECO 2009

 

Computer Modelling

A new science for future : climate impact modeling and the quest for digital openness / Simon David Hirsbrunner.  2021.

 

 

Think Climate: try our energy saving tips

Save energy

With so many of our activities having moved online in the past two years, it’s likely we’re all using our laptops and mobile devices a lot more, but we can all take action to save energy and help meet the University’s ambitious target of net zero carbon emissions by 2035.

Pull the plug on climate change imageIn the SSL we have been working to reduce the energy consumption of our electrical equipment for several years by switching off some of our photocopiers during low use periods and enabling power saving settings on staff computers.  We have reduced computer monitor brightness and we turn off monitors when not in use.  Low energy LED lights with motion sensors have been installed throughout the library, reducing the electricity used for lighting by two thirds.

You can help us save energy in the SSL by following our seven top tips:

  1. Switch off laptops, mobile phones and tablets when not in use – simple and super effective!
  2. Check out the power saving settings on your laptop and mobile phone and make the most of sleep and hibernate options – spend a few minutes on this now then save energy without even thinking about it.
  3. Turn off your mobile phone’s Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth when not in use – this will also make your battery last longer between charges.
  4. Reduce the screen brightness on your mobile phone & laptop.
  5. Unplug any USB devices from your laptop, eg external hard drives, when they are not needed – these can still draw power when not in use.
  6. Shut down the library computers after use – our computers are really quick to start up so there is no need to leave them on for the next person.
  7. Turn off the lights in the Discussion Rooms and Information Skills Training Room when you leave – it’s our policy to leave these lights off.

To learn more about climate change or find out about Oxford University green initiatives, look out for the next posts on our Climate Change Book Display and getting involved.

 

Celebrate World Environment Day

Today, 5 June 2021, is World Environment Day.  This year’s theme is Ecosystem Restoration and the day marks the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.  In this post we share some ways to celebrate.

Explore your local ecosystems: Take a break from studying and get to know your local flora and fauna.  We are lucky to have meadows, rivers and woodland all within a few minutes’ walk of the SSL, including New Marston Meadows, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is located on the other side of the River Cherwell from the University Parks.  Look out for butterflies, kingfishers and swifts and let us know what you discover.

Music Meadow in Oxford with buttercups and trees in the backgroundRead up:  Choose some inspiring reading from our selection of SSL books on restoration ecology.
Books on a shelf with an image of a Turtle Dove on the cover of the book titled WildingOr take a look at these books recently enjoyed by SSL staff:

A Sting in the Tale by Dave Goulson, about the conservation of bumblebees and their habitats, and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.Two book covers, one with images of different bee species and the other with a braid made of sweetgrassWelcome wildlife into your outdoor spaces, whether that’s a window box, balcony or garden.  SSL staff have been leaving nettle patches and wild flowers to grow, taking part in No Mow May, providing nest sites for bees, ladybirds and other insects, adding a pot of bee-friendly plants to their balcony, and even digging a pond.  One colleague made an insect house out of old bits of wood and fir cones in an upturned flower pot.  If you’d like to try this, the RSPB provides a great guide to building your own bug hotelWooden nest box for ladybirds and bees with a terracotta pot containing green shoots of bee-friendly plantsAnd finally, if you’d like to learn more about global ecosystems, why they matter, and how we can all help protect and restore them see https://www.worldenvironmentday.global

Think Carbon: get involved

We can all make individual changes to our behaviour, by taking simple energy saving actions for example, and we can inform ourselves about climate change, but by joining with others we can do more and have fun!

You could sign up for Student Switch Off at your college or take part in Green Impact via your department or college.

These and many other green initiatives are run by the University’s Environmental Sustainability Team.

Think Carbon: read up

Climate Change Virtual Book Display

Be inspired and informed by our selection of books on climate change and the social sciences, chosen by our Subject Consultants.  Click on the title to access the online version (University members only, Single Sign-On required.)  If there is a print copy in the Social Science Library (SSL), the shelfmark is included.

To find more books on climate change, both online and in print in the SSL and other Oxford libraries, search SOLO.

To see how you can help save energy at home or in the SSL, take a look at our blog post on energy saving tips.

General

Climate change : a very short introductionMark Maslin. 3rd ed. 2014.

SSL shelfmark: QC981.8.C5 MAS 2009 (2nd ed.)

 

Oxford handbook of climate change and society / edited by John S. Dryzek, Richard B. Norgaard and David Schlosberg.  2011.

SSL shelfmark:QC903.OXF 2011

 

Routledge handbook of climate change and society / C. Lever-Tracy.  2010.

SSL shelfmark: GE149 ROU 2010

 

Geography

Global warming: understanding the forecast / David Archer.  2007.

SSL shelfmark: QC981.8.C5 ARC 2007

 

Climate change : what everyone needs to know / Joseph Romm.  2nd ed.  2018.

SSL shelfmark: GE149 ROM 2016 (1st ed.)

 

Forced Migration and International Development

Handling climate displacement / Khalid Hassine.  2019.  (Temporary ebook access until May 2021)

 

 

Linking gender to climate change impacts in the Global South / Shouraseni Sen Roy.  2018.

SSL shelfmark: QC903.SEN 2018

 

 

 

Climate change, and displacement: multi-disciplinary perspectives / Jane McAdam.  2010.

SSL shelfmark: JV6346.CLI 2010

 

Climate change and energy insecurity: the challenge for peace, security and development / Felix Dodds.  2009.

SSL shelfmark: GE149 CLI 2009

 

Politics and International Relations

Climate change and the future of democracy / R. S. Deese.  2019.

 

 

Political theory and global climate action : recasting the public sphere / Idil Boran.  2019.

 

 

NATO, climate change, and international security / Tyller Lippert.  2019.

 

 

Climate crisis and the democratic prospect : participatory governance in sustainable communities / Frank Fischer.  2017.

SSL shelfmark: GE170.FIS 2017

 

Power in a warming world : the global politics of climate change and the remaking of environmental inequality / David Ciplet et al.  2015.

SSL shelfmark: GE170 CIP 2015

 

Why are we waiting? : the logic, urgency, and promise of tackling climate change / Nicholas Stern.  2015.

SSL shelfmark: QC903.STE 2015

 

The politics of climate change / Anthony Giddens.  2nd ed.  2011.  (Ebook temporarily available via HathiTrust)

SSL shelfmark: QC903.GID 2011

 

Sociology

The social construction of climate change : power, knowledge, norms, discourses / edited by Mary E. Pettenger.  2007.

SSL shelfmark: GE 149 SOC

 

Debating climate change : pathways through argument to agreement / Elizabeth L. Malone.  2009.

SSL shelfmark: GE149 MAL 2009

 

Economics

The economics and politics of climate change / edited by Dieter Helm and Cameron Hepburn.  2009.

SSL shelfmark: QC903.ECO 2009

 

 

Think Carbon: try our energy saving tips

Save energy

With so many of our activities having moved online, we may find our use of laptops and mobile devices has increased, but we can all do something to save energy, money and carbon dioxide emissions.

Pull the plug on climate change imageIn the SSL we have been working to reduce the energy consumption of our electrical equipment for several years by switching off some photocopiers and PCs during low use periods, setting the photocopiers to sleep after a few minutes’ inactivity and enabling power saving settings on staff PCs.  We have reduced PC monitor brightness and we turn off monitors when not in use.  Low energy LED lights with motion sensors have been installed throughout the library, reducing  the electricity used for lighting by two thirds.

Here are our top tips for how you can save energy at home and in the SSL:

  1. Switch off laptops, mobile phones and tablets when not in use – simple and effective.
  2. Investigate and enable power saving settings on your laptop and mobile phone – do this once then save energy without even thinking about it.
  3. Turn off your mobile phone’s Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth when not in use – this will also make your battery last longer between charges.
  4. Reduce the screen brightness on your mobile phone & laptop.
  5. Unplug any USB devices from your laptop, eg external hard drives, when they are not needed – these can still draw power when not in use.
  6. Shut down the library Reader PCs after use – our PCs are really quick to start up.
  7. Turn off the lights in the Discussion Rooms and Information Skills Training Room when you leave – it’s our policy to leave these lights off.

To learn more about climate change or find out about Oxford University green initiatives, look out for the next posts on our Climate Change Virtual Book Display and getting involved.