Energy efficiency

Energy and Utilities Masterplan

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The Energy and Utilities Masterplan provides a long-term framework for maintaining affordable, sustainable, and resilient utilities infrastructure across the estate. It is aligned to the University’s Climate Strategy and evolving policy and regulation.

The plan includes over £200 million of potential energy efficiency improvement projects across the estate, of which £80 million are recommended for early action.

This year, the University has invested in a new Programme Manager role to assist in aligning the delivery of work packages under the Energy and Utilities Masterplan, Building Services Programmes, Minor Works Programme, and Planned Maintenance.

Significant capital funding has been made available this year for accelerated investment in the operational decarbonisation strategy for the estate.

140 energy saving projects

Since the academic year 2016-17, the University has implemented over a hundred and forty energy efficiency projects valued at £9 million, achieving operating cost savings of £1.4 million and greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 3,400 tCO₂e per annum.

In this academic year, £2.6 million of new projects have been approved for funding with associated savings of £350,000 and 315 tCO₂e per annum. 

These energy efficiency projects included boiler replacement at the King’s Buildings campus Combined Heat and Power Energy Centre, improvements to the district heating at the King’s Buildings campus to reduce heat loss and the consolidation of ultra-low temperature freezers.

These projects are projected to save close to 400 tonnes of CO₂e.

Increase in renewable energy

Energy from renewables on campus has also increased compared to last year, with further plans to further develop renewable energy capacity on campus.

This year the University generated 113,549 kWh from solar photovoltaics and 121,299 kWh from a combination of air and ground source heat pumps. These renewables are installed across our campus locations, including Central Area, Easter Bush, and King’s Buildings.

This will increase significantly next year with a full year of the solar farm being operational at the campus at Easter Bush. More roof-mounted solar photovoltaics will be installed. The new Usher building will utilise air source heat pump technology as its main heating source.

Energy and buildings

Energy & Utilities