Energy
The University of Westminster is committed to reducing its energy consumption through projects relating to electricity and gas efficiency.
The University of Westminster established its first carbon footprint when it participated in the Higher Education Carbon Management Programme (HECM) during 2007/08 liaising with Carbon Trust (Fig 1). A baseline estimate of 14,800 tonnes of CO2 per year was established.
Baseline Carbon Footprint
Fig 1
- 1. Electricity - 54%
- 2. Gas - 30%
- 3. Waste - 12%
- 4. Transport - 3%
- 5. Water - 1%
We identified that more than 80 per cent of our carbon footprint related to energy and electricity consumption, resultant of which since 2008/09 we have commenced to identify and improve the carbon reduction measures. We are committed in reducing our carbon footprint by ten per cent by the end of 2010 resultant of signing up to 10:10 campaign.
The following carbon reduction projects identified to date include:
| No | Carbon Reduction Works |
Estimated Carbon reductions (tonnes/year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Temperature Set Policy |
350 |
| 2 |
Frost Setpoint Reduction |
7 |
| 3 |
Summer/Winter Pump Replacement |
21 |
| 4 |
Heating Header Pipe Replacement |
34 |
| 5 |
Luxborough suite heating controls |
32 |
| 6 |
External ductwork lagging |
84 |
| 7 |
New High Efficient Heat and Hot water system HWS replacement |
104 |
| 8 |
New Heating/HWS improvements |
26 |
| 9 |
Energy efficient lighting |
21 |
| 10 |
Re-usable bottled water from catering |
6 |
| 11 |
Bore Hole |
3 |
This will amount to a saving of 688 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Other ongoing and planned carbon reduction projects for 2009/10 include:
- Voltage optimisation at New Cavendish intale
- Continue to improve lighting efficiency at other Halls
- Continue to replace old pumps to energy efficient
- Continue fitting boiler pipe insulation works
- Continue improving Building Management System (BMS) by re-commissioning the set points
- Energy and Waste awareness programme to staff & students
Staff and Students have also been involved in Green Impact (part of a wider programme, Degrees Cooler), a behaviour change programme, run by the National Union of Students, and supported by the Greener Living Fund, and sponsored by Defra.
