Energy and Water

University of Reading Becomes the First EnCO Aspiring University and Finalist for edie Net Zero Awards The University of Reading has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to sustainability by becoming the first EnCO aspiring university. The Vice-Chancellor has proudly signed the EnCO pledge, reaffirming the institution's dedication to reducing energy consumption and promoting energy efficiency across all areas of campus life. In addition to this achievement, the University has also been nominated as a finalist for the prestigious edie Net Zero Award under the Behaviour Change category, for its 'Our Future First' programme. This recognition highlights the…

Many of you will soon be leaving your halls or student accommodation to go home for the summer and you may have items that you wish to get rid of. We have put together some Green Move Out tips to help you: Use it again and again. Think about whether you can use the item again, do you really need to get rid of it or can you use it for something else? Repair and Mend. If the item is broken, can it be repaired or mended to give it a new lease of life? Rehome, share or donate. Can…

From November 9th, 2023, to March 1st, 2024, the Whiteknights campus embarked on a concerted effort to conserve energy by implementing a lighting switch-off student. The initiative targeted fluorescent lights but included LEDs as well, focusing on areas with high wattage lighting consumers. The student worked from 6:30pm to 8:30pm Monday to Friday, to switch-off after class hours when buildings were typically less occupied.  A total of 21,562 fluorescent bulbs and 5,156 LED bulbs were turned off over the 64 days, which resulted in several thousand pounds worth of energy savings . There were challenges in areas with ongoing activities…

In March 2024 work will begin on the University’s first large scale heat pump retrofit which will see the existing 15-30 year old gas boilers in Sportspark replaced with two air source heat pumps. Last year the University was successfully awarded a grant of £865,000 for the project from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, which is delivered by Salix Finance. Two gas supplies will be removed as part of this project, which will be the first time this has happened in the University’s decarbonisation journey. Planning permission for the project was granted in November 2023 and the…

Plans are underway to enact an Easter heating plan to maximise financial savings and to minimise carbon emissions during the upcoming Easter shutdown. Term ends on 22/03/24 and the University will close fully from 28/03/24 to 02/04/24. The changes in use throughout this time will allow for optimisation of heating hours which will be trimmed in buildings. There will also be focused actions in identified zones within specific buildings such as turning the heating off where it is practically feasible. This approach maximises heating savings from underutilised spaces. The Easter plan has been informed by what was achieved over the…

Work has begun on a transformative heat decarbonisation project that involves the installation of a water source heat pump in the University's Energy Centre. Currently, this facility supplies heating and hot water to 17 buildings on the Whiteknights campus via an underground district heating network (DHN), primarily powered by gas. The project is supported by a £2.2 million grant from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero’s Green Heat Network Fund. This substantial grant, which is being matched by the University, will play a pivotal role in achieving a 10% reduction in carbon emissions across the University's built estate.…

The project Over the yearlong course from winter 2021-2022, we have successfully upgraded components of several Air Handling Units (AHUs) across our university campuses (Whiteknights, Greenland’s and London Road) in order to save huge amounts of energy and carbon. This sustainability project was funded by the Department for Energy and Net Zero, under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and delivered by Salix. The upgrades oversaw ten inverters and ten fan motors replaced within five older, inefficient AHUs. The units were replaced on a like for like basis, with more modern fittings and higher efficiencies where appropriate. All the AHUs…

During Autumn 2021, new Solar PV arrays were installed across 7 buildings on Whiteknights campus creating a huge annual energy and carbon saving. The project was delivered by Salix, and funded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), whereby a grant was awarded to The University in order for us to be able to carry out such instalments to meet our net zero by 2030 target. What is a Solar PV array? A Solar PV array is an assembly of photovoltaic panels, that are most commonly known as solar panels. Across our university campuses in total, we have 3400 solar…