Following another successful Green Week, the Energy and Environment team are pleased to announce that the University has recently been re-certified to the prestigious ISO 50001 Energy Management standard. Achieving this standard demonstrates our comprehensive approach to managing energy on campus which is effective in reducing our energy consumption and carbon emissions.

The Energy Management Standard is key to delivering the University’s recently updated Carbon Management Plan and supports the wider University sustainability Strategy.

As well as delivering on our commitments, the University has benefited from some significant external recognition in 2016/17 including:
A first class ranking in the People & Planet Universities league table
Ranked as one of the most sustainable universities in the world (UI Green Metric)
Shortlisted for a Green Gown award specifically for energy management
For a number of years, we have engaged with building users to raise awareness about how we can reduce the environmental impact of the University and improve efficiencies and comfort levels.

A recent review found that a major opportunity to reduce energy consumption and barrier to achieving our carbon targets is the overheating of campus buildings. For this reason, the University has formalised its approach to Thermal Comfort which is intended to ensure that campus buildings are heated to levels that satisfy all building occupants.

There are three key areas to be aware of:
Campus buildings should be heated to between 19 and 21°C during core hours.
Portable Electric Heaters are not permissible for use unless they have been issued by the Estates Team.
A formal process is in place to ensure those building occupants who believe that conditions fall below the standards know what to do to instigate a response by the Estates Team.