Green Gown Awards 2017 - University of Reading - Winner

Smashing 35

The University set out in 2011 to reduce its carbon emissions by 35% by 2016 compared to a 2008/09 baseline.

Since then, over £4 million has been invested to improve energy efficiency across the University’s estate and at the end of 2016, we were delighted to announce we had achieved this target.

Our annual carbon emissions have reduced from 44,000 tonnes of CO2 in 2008/09 to just over 28,500 tonnes per year. The total carbon saved over the five-year period is 63,000 tonnes, which equates to just over two years' worth of the University's current carbon emissions!

Top 3 learnings:

1 Achieving absolute reductions is possible even when teaching more students.

2 The programme will evolve but requires regular progress reporting.

3 Internal and external sources of funding can be utilised to enable more work to be done.

CO2t savings over the life cycle of the project:

CO2t 75,100 Actual

Videos

• Smashing 35 (click to hide)