Uni’s £150k Christmas Energy Bill

The University has revealed how last year it spent £150k on electricity over the Christmas break. 

Each year the University closes its doors for 11 days between Christmas and New Year. Sustainable Nottingham, UoN’s own blog dedicated to promoting an environmentally aware University, revealed how last year the University’s UK campuses racked up around £150,000 on electricity.

The rare instance of having practically all the buildings on UK campuses deserted  provided an opportunity to monitor how much energy our buildings use when no one is about.

The results are clearly astounding. Sustainable Nottingham claim over 2,300 PCs were left active over the break and the total electricity consumed produces approximately 850 tonnes of carbon dioxide, all while the buildings were deserted.

They are now urging staff and students to switch off office items like PCs, radiators, lighting and water coolers and lab equipment like incubators and drying ovens. 

The University’s own Carbon Management Plan stated in their annual report for 2011/12 stated it invested £1.48 million into 55 different projects. The reports states that in 2010/11 they saw a 1.7% decrease in CO2, with a further 2.3% reduction in emissions with a saving of 1,553 tonnes in 2011/12.

The University was this year presented with the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’ award at The Times Higher Education Awards and was praised for it’s efforts in lowering emissions and held up as an example of “pioneering spirit, adaptability and sheer quality”.

Left to Right: David Walliams, compere at the awards; Dr Keith Pitcher, Director of Sustainability at The University of Nottingham; Gavin Scott, Environmental Manager; and Matthew Biddle, Managing Director of category sponsor Berkeley First