Submitted by Grainne Kennedy on Mon, 2017-02-20 17:02
Set up in 2011, the Energy and Carbon Reduction Project (ECRP) provides funding and support for projects that reduce energy consumption in buildings across the University’s operational estate. To date 68 ECRP funded projects have been completed.
The impact of these 68 projects is impressive. Combined they have resulted in an annual cost saving of £508k and a carbon dioxide reduction of 2,018 tonnes per year. The ECRP started life as a pilot project working with five University buildings, and has expanded its reach each year. 2015/16 was a particularly successful year with the completion of 30 projects and that good work is set to continue with a further 40 projects in the pipeline over the coming year. The energy savings from projects scheduled for the coming year are expected to exceed those achieved through the ECRP to date, as the diagram below illustrates.
Projects delivered have generally fallen within five categories: lighting upgrades; Building Management System (BMS) improvements; Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) projects (watch our video here about the project in the University Library); equipment upgrades; and renewable energy installations. The projects have delivered improvements using well known technologies such as LED lighting but in certain cases ECRP has given departments an opportunity to develop bespoke solutions for their energy problems.
The ECRP however, is not just a funding source. Once an application is made, participants receive valuable technical guidance and support from Building Energy Managers, Xiang Cheng and Adam Fjaerem. The project has also provided support for the improvement of energy use in laboratories through the Green Labs programme, which supports lab users in reducing the environmental impact of their work.