09 May 2007
University accelerates fight against climate change
The University of Sheffield is set to cut its carbon footprint and reduce energy bills by joining phase three of the Carbon Trust´s Higher Education Carbon Management (HECM) programme. The University of Sheffield is one of 15 universities across England and Scotland participating in this phase of the Carbon Trust´s programme.
The Carbon Trust´s HECM programme is designed specifically for universities and Higher Education colleges, providing them with practical advice on cutting their carbon emissions and reducing energy costs. To date, the Carbon Trust has worked with 33 universities – one third of the Higher Education sector – and has identified annual savings of more than £12 million and 125,000 tonnes of CO2 for the sites involved.
The Higher Education Carbon Management programme is designed to deliver improved energy management of academic, accommodation, leisure buildings and vehicle fleets. It also provides practical support to organisations by helping them identify carbon saving opportunities, providing software to analyse energy consumption and delivering workshop support for staff and senior managers to improve their awareness of energy efficiency. The programme is supported by a bespoke toolkit – a web-based manual that gives detailed guidance on the programme´s process, technical advice and examples of best practice.
Professor Peter Fleming, the University of Sheffield´s Pro-Vice Chancellor for External Relations, commented: "Through working in close partnership with the Carbon Trust on their Higher Education Carbon Management programme, we can develop a strategy and a set of practical actions to help us be more energy efficient. We are looking forward to reducing our carbon emissions and therefore playing our role in the fight against climate change, while securing considerable financial savings as well."
Richard Rugg, Public Sector Programme Manager at the Carbon Trust, added: "In England alone, the Higher Education sector emits 3.3million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, so cutting carbon should be a key priority for all universities and colleges. With the Higher Education sector currently spending more than £200 million on energy each year, improving energy management and therefore reducing energy bills is crucial – particularly as the money saved can be invested in valuable resources for staff and students.
The third phase of the Carbon Trust´s Higher Education Carbon Management programme will run until March 2008.
Notes for Editors: Fifteen universities joined phase two of the programme in May 2006 - University of Northumbria, University of Loughborough, University of Leicester, University of Exeter, University of Surrey, Manchester Metropolitan University, Edge Hill College of Higher Education, University of Central Lancashire, University of Worcester, University of Hertfordshire, London School of Economics, University of London, Queen Mary University London, University of Wales, Cardiff, University of Wales, Newport, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.
The Carbon Trust is a private company set up by the government in response to the threat of climate change, to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy. The Carbon Trust works with UK business and the public sector to create practical business-focused solutions through its external work in five complementary areas: insights, solutions, innovations, enterprises and investments. Together these help to explain, deliver, develop, create and finance low carbon enterprise.
For further information please contact: Lindsey Bird, Media Relations Officer on 0114 2225338 or email l.bird@shef.ac.uk
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