Carbon and Water Management

• The Estate Development Service (EDS) has undertaken a comprehensive review of the University’s current Carbon Management Plan in collaboration with Carbon Credentials, sector leaders in supporting the development of Carbon Management Plans. Extensive stakeholder engagement has been undertaken to ensure involvement from Colleges, staff, students, the Students’ Guild and tenants, in order to confer ownership of responsibilities within the plan. This has contributed to the development of a series of “Low Carbon Commitment” documents, comprising a strategy, implementation plan and delivery programme. These will be published in early 2015 and later in the year will be accompanied by a campaign to target staff and student behaviour change.
  
  
• EDS has also completed a review of the University’s historic carbon dioxide emissions to ensure there is a robust mechanism for monitoring and managing performance against the established 2020 and 2050 emissions targets. This review has resulted in the emissions associated with the University of Exeter’s Penryn activities also being included in the overall carbon footprint. The University’s carbon dioxide emissions have therefore increased by 1.03% from 2012/13 to 2013/14 in absolute terms, but have seen a continual reduction in emissions when compared against FTE Student of 2.5% and against Floor Area of 5.35% over the same period. EDS have also reviewed the current Carbon Management Plan, and are now working on approving a long-term strategy to meet the 2020 and 2050 carbon reduction targets.
  
  
• In 2013/14 EDS invested £204,000 in energy and carbon reduction projects via the Salix programme. Projects included replacement of boilers, lighting controls and upgrades, and draught insulation. It is anticipated that these initiatives will realise carbon dioxide savings of 176 tonnes per year, with an annual financial saving of £34,000. In addition to the Salix expenditure, the Building Management System has been further optimised which has led to an improvement in the efficiency of the University’s boilers. This has reduced gas consumption by 1-2% and realised a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by around 150 tonnes.