Submitted by Grainne Kennedy on Tue, 2019-01-29 14:26
Our energy consumption at home is tangible because we pay the bills. That cost might spur us on to make changes to our behaviour, make energy efficiency improvements or invest in renewable technologies. Given the huge amount of energy that we use in the University and the targets that we have to reduce that consumption, it is crucial that we understand where energy is used and how we can reduce it; just like we might do at home. This February is Spotlight on Energy month, and the Environment and Energy section are here to provide training and information that will help you get your head around energy in the University, while giving you the skills you need to tackle the energy issues where you work.
Accessing departmental energy data: Systemslink training
The old adage goes, you cannot manage what you cannot measure. Thanks to improved metering across the estate, more departments than ever can access their energy data to monitor their progress in reducing energy. Systemslink is the database that the University uses to display the data of non-embedded departments and during February, staff can attend Systemslink training on either the 7 or 20 of February. This course may be of interest to those involved in departmental finance, building management or facility operations and anyone who communicates environmental issues to staff e.g. Green Impact teams and EECs.
You can book your place by clicking on the links below:
Thursday 7 February, Greenwich House
Wednesday 20 February, Greenwich House
Measuring and sharing your environmental progress
Come along to this training session on 4 February to see how you can use simple measurement tools to refine your environmental efforts, inspire your colleagues, and learn more about making positive environmental changes at the University.
The training session aims to give staff and students at the University who are keen to reduce their environmental impact an idea of how to measure and monitor the impact of changes they make. We’ll look at useful sources of data, review case studies of what others have done to measure their impact and communicate it to colleagues, and try out some practical exercises to work out the environmental ‘footprint’ of activities associated with energy, waste, travel and purchasing. Attendees will also be provided with a compehensive 'cheat sheet' helping you to quantify the environmental footprint of some typical work-related activities!
The training takes place from 11am-12pm, followed by lunch and a drop-in session for Green Impact teams from 12-1pm.
Monday 4 February University Centre
Making our labs more energy efficient: Green Labs training for laboratory staff
The University of Cambridge is a research intensive institution and much of our energy is used in research spaces. Two training sessions have been organised to help Lab Managers, Lab Facilities Technicians and Researchers identify where they can reduce energy consumption. Attendees will receive practical tips on how improvements can be made, information will be provided on the funding available for energy efficiency improvements and there will be a demonstration of the LEAF tool to quantify energy usage. The Mill Lane event will have representation from both the University of Cambridge's Green Labs initiative and University College London, while the Clinical School event will be hosted by the Green Labs initiative.
Late morning refreshments will be provided.
Friday 8 February, 17 Mill Lane
Monday 11 February, Clinical School
The future of energy: from negative to positive lunchtime talk
The world of energy is changing fast; hardly a week goes by without some record announcement in renewable energy creation or in energy efficiency. It is an exciting and challenging time to work in this field, and we wanted to hear all about it. As part of Spotlight on Energy month we have organised a lunchtime talk for all staff which brings together researchers from Physics, Engineering and POLIS. Come along to hear about how the ways we produce and use our energy are quickly changing and how policy is keeping up with our energy demands.
Tuesday 12 February, Mill Lane Lecture Rooms
Come along to this training session on 4 February to see how you can use simple measurement tools to refine your environmental efforts, inspire your colleagues, and learn more about making positive environmental changes at the University.