Bradford University is investing £120million in a bid to become one of the world's greenest education institutions.

The Ecoversity Project, launched today, brings together a programme of ongoing and new building improvements and green schemes to create a more environmentally friendly campus.

Central to the project is the plan to create a 'sustainable student village' using the latest environmental technologies.

This will provide 1,250 student study bedrooms, with the creation of 1,000 new rooms and remodelling of an existing hall of residence.

The village's eco-friendly features will include:

l The use of biomass, wind, and solar power energy sources;

l Triple-glazing to maximise heat retention;

l Pedestrian streets, 'golden routes', and cycle storage to reduce the need for parking;

l Water-saving schemes including low-volume toilets flushed with rainwater; and

l Buildings constructed from natural, reclaimed and recycled materials.

Professor Chris Taylor, vice-chancellor of the University said: "This series of exciting developments will see the transformation of the University of Bradford - not just in terms of its built environment, but also its ethos towards community engagement, business support, and the education of our students, staff and the community at large."

Jaime Sullivan, environment manager and ecoversity project leader, said: "Our vision is to deliver a student experience that teaches and demonstrates the importance of living a sustainable lifestyle, using good building design, and incorporating sustainability learning and active participation.

"We hope that our students and our staff will be ambassadors of this project and take this ethos forward in life."

Cathy Knamiller, 33, is a PhD student and is researching sustainable water management.

She said: "The university is setting a trend that others should follow.

"The Ecoversity Project will be hugely important in reducing energy wastage and therefore our impact on global warming and resource depletion."

The project is part of a broader plan, worth £120million, to make the university more environmentally friendly and sustainable by 2009.

The move towards a sustainable campus began in 2002, with the development of the £4.5million Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation, which uses natural ventilation, solar shading, an automated building management system, and solar controlled lighting.

A further £8.5million has been invested in the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics and the Norcroft Conference Centre.

The two buildings will include a green sedum roof, solar shading, and triple-insulation.