Background
There is increasing pressure on the Higher Education sector to formally integrate sustainable development into policy and practice, as evidenced in the recent Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (HEPS) initiative and the move by HEFCE to produce a sustainable development strategy. This reflects a wider international, national and local commitment to sustainable development, which has resulted in various earth summits over the past decade, the publication of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy and the Local Agenda 21 programme.
With particular reference to energy, and in response to concerns about increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, the Kyoto earth summit in December 1997 produced a set of principles commonly referred to as the ‘Kyoto Protocol’. The Protocol, which is binding for the developed nations, included an agreement that greenhouse gases would be reduced to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The Government fully embraced these principles and latterly set a target of a 20% reduction, on 1990 levels, by the year 2010.
The University’s Energy policy has been drafted within the context of formalising the University’s commitment to sustainability and meeting Government targets for reduction in harmful emissions. The short-term target for Crown property is a reduction of 1% per year in emissions, which reflects current thinking on climate change. As well as a reduction in harmful emissions, the Energy policy will establish targets for reducing consumption of energy and water, and for dependence on fossil fuels.
The following is a summary of the University's policy and implementation strategy. The full text is available at Energy Policy and Implementation Strategy.
Policy
Within the limits imposed by current legislation, and in accordance with Government targets, the University will endeavour to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, and to eliminate waste without adversely affecting working conditions for students and staff.
Energy Management Objectives
To realise this policy, the University has developed a range of Energy management objectives, including:
- Purchase energy and water at the most economic price with due regard for environmental issues
- Use all fuels and water as efficiently as possible
- Incorporate energy efficiency measures within refurbishment and new build projects
- Develop a programme of energy saving measures which will maximise return (ie those with less than a three year payback)
- Increase staff awareness in energy efficiency
- Support the Sustainability Advisory Group in its efforts to promote energy conservation
- Accurately identify patterns of energy and water usage throughout the University in order to target areas of high consumption
- Set targets and regularly monitor and evaluate energy performance levels
- Produce a local incentive scheme to save energy by devolving accountability for energy consumption, where possible.
Responsibilities
Heads of Schools, Units and Departments are responsible, as far as possible within the constraints of existing buildings and systems, for controlling the consumption of energy and water within their areas.
The Director of Estates has the day-to-day responsibility of ensuring that, within the funding available, buildings and equipment are adequately maintained and efficiently run so as to reduce the consumption of energy and water.
The University's Sustainability Advisory Group is responsible for a broad range of environmental issues, including reviewing the Energy Policy and energy performance; evaluating the benefits of energy management; and prioritising energy management activities.
Implementation Strategy
An Implementation Strategy has been agreed in support of the objectives of the policy. This includes a series of measures to be undertaken and targets to be met over the next five years (to 2010) to achieve greater energy efficiency and conservation awareness, together with a continued reduction in CO2 emissions to meet Government targets.
Critically, the Strategy is an institutional, rather than solely an Estates, measure and this is intended to persuade staff and students that energy conservation is the responsibility of all.
