The University of St Andrews has a goal to become carbon neutral for its energy supply by 2016. This document outlines our three part Energy Strategy which will help us achieve this goal and details the projects we currently have in place to reduce our carbon emissions.
University of St Andrews Our Energy Strategy Environment Team, Estates.
The University has a three part energy strategy in place to help us become carbon neutral. It is delivered through our Carbon Management Plan and is supported by University Court via the 2012 to 2022 Sustainable Development Strategy. The three parts of the energy strategy include; behaviour change, micro and macro renewables and energy investment and efficiency.
Interhall Energy Interhall energy saves up to 45 tonnes of carbon/yr Transition
Environmental Facilitators
Behaviour Change
Staff and Students doing practical carbon reduction projects Micro Solar thermal on buildings with high water use. Solar PV & GSHP
Environmental Facilitators are making changes which reduce our energy use in university buildings and cascading info to all staff. Macro
Micro and Macro Renewables
Kenly Wind Farm will save 19,000 tonnes of carbon per annum, Guardbridge Energy Centre will save 12,000 tonnes per annum
Buildings Buildings built to BREAAM excellent standard which ensures energy efficiency of the building
Energy Investment and Efficiency
Salix We have 120 Salix projects which save 3180 tonnes of carbon per annum.
= Carbon neutral for energy (target: 2016) University of St Andrews August 2012
1
Behaviour Change Environmental Facilitators In order to facilitate behaviour change we have developed the Staff Environmental Facilitators Network. The purpose of this is to engage colleagues and to encourage environmental behaviours in each school/unit to reduce the University’s overall carbon footprint. In our first run on the programme we have 49 staff members enrolled as Environmental Facilitators. Specific behaviours include: Reducing energy consumption through ‘smart’ workplace operations Reducing the amount of recyclables going to landfill Reducing the amount of overall waste by promoting
reuse Reducing water wastage Promoting and advising on sustainable work travel options Encouraging sustainable purchasing
Our 1st group of Environmental Facilitators
Interhall Energy As well as encouraging behavior change amongst staff (above) we also have initiatives in place to help change the behavior of students. For example, an Interhall Energy Competition has been running at the University since 2006/2007. This competition aims to encourage students to take actions towards reducing their energy consumption in halls of residence. Monitoring has revealed that over 45 tonnes of CO2 have been saved.
University of St Andrews August 2012
2
Results of 2011/12 Interhalll competition There are also numerous environmentally friendly student-led groups and societies that we support to help them raise awareness amongst the student body.1
Transition University of St Andrews A group of students and staff at the University have been recognised for its innovative ideas to tackle climate change at a local level, with a recent renewed funding award of nearly ÂŁ350,000 from the Scottish Government. This Climate Challenge Fund money is funding one full time member staff and numerous student interns at the University to run various carbon reduction projects, mainly centred around behavior change. For more information visit: www.standrews.ac.uk/transition
1
E.g. OneWorld, Wild Soc, Greenpeace Society and Sustainable Development Society
University of St Andrews August 2012
3
Micro and Macro Renewable Energy MACRO Kenly Wind Computer generated image of Kenly We have currently have a live planning application for the installation of 6 x 2megawatt wind turbines on the University Farm at Kenly, saving 19,000Tonnes of carbon per year. Some of the impacts of this project include:
Direct and indirect investment in Fife - GDP benefit of £7.1M for Fife and £0,.6M to the East Neuk. Job creation during construction and maintenance Community benefit fund - £1M for the local community Helps achieve Scotland’s objective of 100% of renewable electricity by 2020 Means University complies with its duty under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 Secures energy pricing into the future University will self-sufficient for electrical energy
Guardbridge Energy Centre We also have plans for £20M+ investment into the regeneration of the former Guardbridge paper mill with the aim of creating an Energy Centre to generate heat (and power) which will reduce University carbon emissions by 12,000T per year.
University of St Andrews August 2012
4
Exterior of Guardbridge
MICRO Alongside the larger energy projects we are also actively deploying a range of micro renewable energy technologies across the estate, including:
Solar thermal The University has installed a series of solar thermal panels on the new Fife Park Apartment blocks to heat hot water. These panels generate 45,000kWh of heat, saving 10 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. 120m2 of solar thermal evacuated tubes have also been installed at the New Medical Building and 27 panels have been installed at New Hall to heat hot water.
Solar panels at DRA
Solar PV We also have installed solar PV (photovoltaic) panels to generate electricity at MUSA and the New Arts building.
University of St Andrews August 2012
5
Ground Source Heat Pump In addition, a ground source heat pump has been installed at the University Museum (MUSA) top heat the building which saves 4 tonnes of carbon per year.
Energy Investment and Efficiency Salix Fund The University has funding through Salix, an independent company funded by the Carbon Trust, to reduce carbon emissions by investing in energy efficiency measures. The University has emerged as the leading public sector body in the UK in 2011/2012 for the use of our Salix fund. The University has so far invested £2.5 million to a variety of energy saving initiatives. We have 121 projects; saving 3,180 tonnes per annum and are 1st in the UK for both committed and commissioned spend.
BREAAM and Buildings Across the University, all new buildings since 2010 are designed to BREAAM Excellent standards. BREAAM building certification is a leading design and assessment method for sustainable buildings that includes a wide range of environmental standards including energy efficiency, construction materials, water use, waste and more. This ensures that all new infrastructure at the University is designed to the highest green standards and to adapt to cope with climate change. Examples include student residences such as Fife Park Apartments, and science buildings such as the Medical & Biological Sciences Building. The BMS Annex building is the first ‘Outstanding’ building in Scotland and first “Outstanding” research lab in the UK and is enabling £1.6M research on the treatment of influenza.
FURTHER INFORMATION For more information on our energy strategy please contact Roddy Yarr (Environment and Energy Manager) or David Stutchfield (Energy Officer) in the Environment Team at environment@st-andrews.ac.uk Please also see information and policies on our website www.st-andrews.ac.uk/environment
University of St Andrews August 2012
6