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Sustainability

The Environment and Energy section organises a number of ‘Spotlight on’ months throughout the year to raise awareness of important environmental issues. During February we will be turning the spotlight on energy, to engage staff and to make energy a more tangible issue for us all.

Why energy?

As a university we use a vast amount of energy; a total of 274 million kWh last year at an estimated cost of over £18 million. In electricity alone we used the equivalent annual consumption of over 36,000 Cambridge homes!

For every kWh of energy that we use there are associated carbon emissions (known as Scope 1 and 2 emissions). The University has committed to reducing these emissions, and sets out targets for achieving this in its Carbon Reduction Strategy. The Strategy commits the University to becoming zero carbon in terms of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050, and sets a number of interim targets towards that. Further work is currently ongoing to see whether the 2050 target can be brought forward to 2040, and to develop Science Based Targets for the University. Becoming a zero carbon university is an ambitious aspiration and, to achieve this, we all need to make energy a prime consideration when it comes to how we design our spaces and experiments, how we source our equipment and how we behave each and every day.

To reach these targets we need to make energy a prime consideration when it comes to how we design our spaces and experiments, how we source our equipment and how we behave each and every day.

Our energy numbers

Figure 1: Headline energy figures for the University of Cambridge 2017/18

The opportunities

With more than 2,000 meters across the University’s estate our knowledge of how our energy is being used has never been greater, and with that we hope departments will be able to identify the opportunities to save energy. There are training events to help staff access their data (this training is not available to embedded departments), use their data to create change, and Green Labs sessions to help lab staff identify areas for improvement.

On a larger scale the Environment and Energy section have two Building Energy Managers, a Sustainable Labs Coordinator and a Sustainable Buildings Advisor who can provide advice and support when it comes to making spaces and workplaces as energy efficient as possible.

Finally, the Electricity Devolution Programme (EDP) will place responsibility for electricity consumption within the hands of departments, which we hope will help to make energy saving a greater priority for everyone and galvanize action across the University to make departments as energy efficient as possible.

What can I do?

There are three key messages that we would like each member of staff to be aware of this Spotlight on Energy month.

1. Join with your colleagues

Energy saving is not an individual sport, yes there are things that we can do on our own but we are far more effective when we join with our colleagues to identify the system or equipment failure that cause us to overconsume. This Spotlight on Energy month take some time to identify the energy issues where you work. One of the easiest ways you can do this is by supporting your departmental Green Impact team. Or if there isn't a team already, consider setting one up.

2. Measure to manage

For departments that are not embedded there is a wealth of energy data available on Systemslink to help communicate energy issues in your department. Access this information yourself or encourage your department to do so.

3. Funding is available

Staff can avail of financial support through the Equipment Replacement Programme to purchase energy efficient versions of lab equipment such as freezers and drying cabinets, and for building level energy efficiency projects funding can be applied for through the Energy and Carbon Reduction Project.

What happens after Spotlight on Energy month?

The Environment and Energy section are available throughout the year to speak to you about your energy efficiency concerns. Keep an eye on our social media throughout the month as each week we will share ‘A day in the life’ profile of the energy-related staff that are here to help you on your journey to energy efficiency.