Energy Saving Projects
The University is currently investing in a number of energy saving projects. Click on the links below to find our more:
The University has an extensive Building Management System (BMS) which controls the heating, ventilation and air conditioning of Administration, School and Research buildings.
Most of the local controllers for the buildings and system are reaching the end of their useful life so a replacement programme with the latest Ethernet web-based PX model is currently in progress. Altogether around 60 controllers are being upgraded giving the University a greater level of functionality control and visibility of building environments.
This project is due to be complete by the end of 2008.
The University has been successful in attracting£500k of external funding from Salix finance and HEFCE to establish a revolving loan fund for carbon reduction measures. The fund will invest in projects such as:
- lighting upgrades and lighting controls
- boiler replacement schemes
- pipe work insulation
- timers for electrical equipment
- variable speed drives (VSDs efficiently control motors e.g. pumps, fans, etc.)
Savings from the funded projects will be fed back into the fund for reinvestment in further energy saving projects.
Initial priorities for the Salix fund will be:
- installation of motion sensitive lighting to corridors, toilets and shared spaces such as common rooms
- investing in timers for electrical equipment (e.g. photocopiers)
- installation of more Variable Speed Drives.
The Salix fund will be used to accelerate the installation energy efficient lighting and motion sensitive lighting controls across the University estate.
Energy surveys carried out by the Sustainability Team during the night have identified unacceptable amounts of lighting left on in unoccupied areas. Initial priorities for lighting controls include corridors, toilets and shared areas such as common rooms and computer clusters, as it is in these areas the greatest energy savings can be made.
During early 2009 the University will be embarking on a significant project to install a secondary metering system for all utilities covering water, electricity ad gas supplies to all buildings.
The need for the project is driven by the new legislation requiring the University to produce Display Energy Certificates for buildings with a floor area over 1,000 sqm.