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Sustainability

 


Eliminating Gas


Eliminating Gas: New Museums site study

March 2021

In our 2020 Assessment of Options for Reducing the University's Use of Natural Gas it was recommended that the heating of the New Museums Site should move in future to a system of centralised heat pumps linked to a heat network. A study has been completed that examines how this could be achieved within the constraints of a historic and densely built-up environment.   

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Renewables


Renewables: Power Purchase Agreement

October 2019

The University of Cambridge has joined 19 other UK universities in a ground-breaking renewable energy deal to buy energy directly from British windfarms. The deal, known as a ‘Power Purchase Agreement’ or PPA, involves purchasing a proportion of power at a fixed price over a 10-year period. It is the first time in UK history that a PPA has been established by collaboration between public sector energy users.

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Renewables: Engineering energy Roof

May 2016

Faced with a leaky roof, the Department of Engineering turned a routine maintenance job into an opportunity to generate its own electricity. Up and running since 2013, the 'energy roof' is saving money and carbon, and has become a valuable resource for research and teaching in the department.

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Building Level


Building Level: CISL's ultra-low carbon sustainability hub at 1 Regent Street

March 2021

The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) has announced the start of works on its new visionary headquarters. This world first for a retrofitted sustainable office building will set new standards for low energy use, carbon emissions and impact on natural resources as well as user experience and wellbeing measured against multiple benchmarks.  

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Building Level: Sustainability in action on the University’s farm

November 2020

Given the potential impact of its practices and policies, the University's Park Farm in Madingley works to a number of core aims of animal welfare but also of environmental sustainability, including farming in a sustainable manner.

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Building Level: Hutchison/MRC Research Centre moves to demand ventilation

May 2016

In May 2013, the Hutchison/MRC Research Centre became the first building in the UK to install the US demand ventilation control system Aircuity. 

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Building Level: University Library 

May 2016

As one of the ECRP original Pilot Buildings the University Library has one of the largest carbon footprints of any University building, as well as being, in terms of floor area, one of the largest single buildings on the University's estate.

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Building Level: Lighting replacements

May 2016

It is estimated that there is 4.78MW of artificial lighting installed across the University’s main estate. If used for a period of 10 hours every day this would consume around 17.4GWh of electricity. 

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Energy Monitoring


Energy Monitoring: the impact of COVID-19 on the University’s energy use

July 2020

The Sustainability Team has analysed energy use in some of the University's higher-consuming buildings to see how consumption changed after these COVID-19 instigatied lockdown measures were put in place. The results, inevitably, are as complex as the University estate itself, but there are some overall trends. 

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Equipment


Equipment: Ultra Low Temperature Storage

May 2016

Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers (ULT Freezers) typically operate between -70 and -80oC, consuming between 16-22KWh per day, roughly twice the average daily consumption of a U.K household (9KWh/day). They are therefore one of the signal most energy intensive pieces of general laboratory equipment. In the Clinical School these storage facilities are essential for storing or archiving biological samples. 

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Equipment: LEDs in Plant Growth

May 2016

Replacing fluorescent tubes with LEDs is a simple way for homes and offices to cut energy bills and save carbon. But what about a plant growth facility, where light is a key part of the science? We talk to the team in the Department of Plant Sciences about how a pilot funded by the ECRP it is shedding new light on saving money and carbon at the same time as doing world class plant science.

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