Background In 1993, the European Union (EU) published the first version of the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Regulation ((EEC) No 1836/93 of 29 June 1993), which initially referred to the development and implementation of environmental management and audit principles in industrial sites only and called for the continuous improvement of environmental performance leading to the adoption of economically viable Best Available Techniques (BAT). The implementation of EMAS and the registration of sites were limited, with the exception of countries such as Germany and Sweden. The new revised version of the EMAS Regulation, (Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001) extended the scheme to all interested organisations, including the public sector, and allowed for the adopted Environmental Management System to be as specified in the ISO 14001, 1996 standard. Objectives The principal objective of the project was to implement the EMAS Regulation in the University of Macedonia (UoM) in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Public institutions in Greece have been slow to take up the EMAS scheme and the level of implementation has been low. The UoM aimed to implement the project with the Municipality of Thessaloniki in order to demonstrate the potential for environmental cooperation between educational institutions and local authorities. The managing partnership (comprising the UoM research committee, the company for the development and management of UoM property, an environmental consulting engineering company and the Municipality of Thessaloniki) planned a range of actions with the aim of integrating environmental principles into the everyday operations of the university. These were: Integration of an EMAS Office into the UoM Infrastructure; Carry out an environmental review of UoM's operations; Develop a UOM Environmental Policy; Improve the environmental awareness of UoM Students, Personnel and Internal Subcontractors; Develop an Environmental Management System; Implement an EMAS Information System to support EMAS operations; Introduce a Materials Recycling Programme and Air-Conditioning (energy) Management in UoM; Establishment of the MoTH’s Environmental Information Kiosk and composting facilities in Thessaloniki’s park; Hold a one day Environmental Awareness Event; Verify UOM's EMAS and Site Registration; Carry out a cost benefit analysis of EMAS development and implementation; Compile and issue a best practices guide on EMAS implementation; Hold dissemination events including three workshops and one conference, accompanied by the issuing of information material and presentations. The overall objective of these actions was to reduce the environmental impact of the UoM's operations, improve health and safety conditions in the UoM premises, raise environmental awareness, stimulate closer co-operation with other educational institutions and disseminate information on the lessons learned. Results The project achieved its objectives of implementing EMAS in an academic institution and a public authority in Greece. The UoM became one of only twelve academic institutions in the EU to implement EMAS. The project sensitised and involved staff and students, and introduced more environmental courses to the university curriculum. It also achieved some reductions in the impacts the university's operation have on the environment, for example, Heating: estimated decrease in total annual fuel consumption of 8 percent; Cooling: estimated decrease in power consumption of 5%; Lighting: 25 percent decrease in power consumption. In the last year of implementation of the project (2004-2005), when all the planned measures had been implemented, the following environmental benefits were recorded in comparison to 2003-2004: 20 percent decrease in energy (thermal and electric) consumption; Noticeable decreases in CO2, CO, NOx, HC. However, there was an increase in SO2 emissions; The consumption of paper was stabilised at a level around 15 percent lower than 2001-2003 levels; 20 percent of the total number of cartridges and toners were reused during the first two years of implementation. The project was innovative because it was implemented in a sector whose participation in EMAS has been very low – educational institutions. EMAS implementation has also been low in general in Greece (four sites implemented EMAS in 2002, 18 sites in 2005 - none of which belongs to the public sector). One of the major innovations of the project was the partnership that was established: between an educational institution (its staff and students) and the municipality hosting it. Most UoM employees, students and other interested parties live in the municipality of Thessaloniki, and so their increased environmental awareness and training will not only benefit the UoM but also the local community, through, for example, the extension of recycling activities to households and operation of the Environmental Education Kiosk that was set up in Thessaloniki by the project. A computer system was set up to help the implementation of EMAS within the UoM's operations, whilst a cost-benefit analysis on the project's impact was carried out. The partnership behind the project is committed to sustaining the project beyond its end date. It is planned that a permanent position of an EMAS-office administrator will be created so that the EMAS system can be monitored and maintained. In addition, the municipality is committed to maintaining the Environmental Information Kiosk set up by the project. UoM Student Volunteer Support Group members will staff the Kiosk. Other on-going activities include: UoM's EMAS website (http://www.greenuniversity.gr) has been enhanced to make its administration easier; Continuing environmental education and sensitisation of UoM's students, personnel and the general public, through integration of environmental elements into university courses and through public workshops and other activities. The project's dissemination activities were effective and well-planned. They included 18 articles in the daily press and three articles in UoM and municipality magazines, as well as presentations and networking activities. Several institutions have expressed interest in the project including the University of Athens (Geoponics Department), the Aristotle University, Panteion University (Institute of Urban Environment and Human Resources) and the University of Thrace (Department of Environmental Engineers). This project has been selected as one of the 22 "Best" LIFE Environment projects in 2006-2007