Carbon management plan, carbon management progress paper and energy statement
An ambitious objective was set for the University in 2011 to reduce carbon emissions by 40% against 2005/06 baseline for scope 1 and 2 emissions. The plan sought the following outcomes over the following 9 years:
- A significant reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions, with consequent financial savings.
- Improved energy and utilities management and related financial planning to respond more effectively to likely increases in energy costs.
- Better understanding and monitoring of energy consumption and hence more effective identification of energy saving measures.
- Increased staff and student awareness of the importance of environmental issues to enable them to reduce the University’s carbon footprint as well as their individual carbon footprints.
The recently produced carbon management progress report provides an overview of the University’s utilities consumption and carbon emissions impact in the 14 year period 2008 to 2022.
Highlights from the report provide significant achievements:
- An impressive reduction of scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 38% from 7,267 in 2008-09 baseline year to 4,542 TCO2e/year in 2020-21 despite a 31% increase in the estates size which has led to an increase of utilities usage, costs and carbon emissions by 24%.
- In relative terms, scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions are 52% lower (at 42 kgCO2e/year/m2) than in our 2008-09 baseline year (at 87 kgCO2e/year/m2).
- In the last 13 years the University has invested £3.4million in 61 projects with 5 to 10 years payback to reduce utilities usage, associated costs and carbon emissions.
- Annual energy savings are totalling 5000 MWh/year which is equivalent of powering and heating 313 UK homes for a year.
- Energy management is saving the University £530k in utilities every year (as calculated with utilities prices at the time of project closure) which is valued today at £1.3m p.a. with the current energy cost crisis.
- Key projects undertaken between 2008 – 2022 are:
- Over 14,000 lighting replacements to LED with motion and daylight controls
- 508m2 of solar electricity panels installed
- 1,750 thermostatic radiator valves installed
- Voltage optimisation of our 7 main electricity supplies
- 4,000m2 of 30cm thick loft insulation in all buildings with unoccupied pitched roofs
- 1,875m of heating pipework insulated
- Draught proofing of 615 windows and doors
- Detection and repair of gas and water leaks
These documents can be read on the following links: carbon management plan and progress paper. The energy statement provides an overview of the University’s commitment to abide by current legislation, promote energy saving measures and seek conservation measures across the estate.