Carbon Management Strategy:
Recommendations and Guidance
Executive summary
Introduction
The report contains recommendations for a strategic approach to be taken by the University of Bath in reducing emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) from it operations at the Claverton Down campus, its premises in the City of Bath, and with reference to its prospective new campus at Swindon. The report has been prepared by Energy for Sustainable Development Ltd (ESD), under the terms of contracts with the Carbon Trust and with the University, and takes as its point of reference the diagnostic report prepared earlier in the project.
Climate change is real. Over the period to 2050 the world will change fundamentally. The daily effects of climate change, availability and price of fossil fuels, environmental regulation and new technology will change the face of energy supply and use, and make the emission of greenhouse gases one of society's key concerns. In 2000 the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) recommended that, in order merely to contain the effects of global warming, the UK should reduce CO2 emissions by a massive 60% below current levels by 2050. The UK's Kyoto obligation is to reduce CO2 emissions by 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008-12, and its aspirational target is 20% by 2010.
The University of Bath is an institution with long time horizons, and one concerned with the transformation of individuals and of society. The University's mission is concerned with the provision of technical, liberal and professional education and research, and applying knowledge to useful ends in response to the requirements of the contemporary world. The University has a reputation for excellence, for looking to the future, and has a global context for its research, teaching and student recruitment.
Climate change sits squarely in the University's profile. Commercial research and funding partners are increasingly driven by climate change concerns and regulation, and environmental regulation will increasingly impact directly on higher education activity. Staff and students express concern for global, social and environmental issues. For the first time, the University's three year Corporate Plan (2003/4-2005/6) contains explicit sustainability and low carbon objectives.
Executing a low carbon strategy delivers real benefits to the University. These include reducing long-term operating costs, enhancing the University's brand value, satisfying HEFCE funding criteria and minimising the potential for environmental objections to the new Swindon campus or expansion at Claverton Down, matching the concerns of research sponsors and partners, and increasing satisfaction and loyalty on the part of many staff and students.
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CO2 emissions and targets
Current emissions of CO2 from University operations are estimated at around 26,000 tonnes/year (2002 figures), of which emissions from electricity, gas and transport account for around one third each. Without any additional interventions, emissions from the University are set to rise to around 43,000 tCO2/yr assuming that Swindon campus is built.
Specific and general targets for emissions reduction are recommended. Based on national policy benchmarks, coupled with a bottom-up analysis of savings opportunities, recommended targets are:
Target 1: To reduce emissions of CO2 from the University's activity at the Claverton Down campus and in the City of Bath by 20% by 2010 below a 2002 baseline.
Target 2: In the event of a new campus at Swindon being developed, doubling student numbers, to keep total emissions at 2002 levels once the new campus is complete, so reducing emissions per head of University population by 50%.
The new campus at Swindon is a unique opportunity to put the University in the forefront of sustainable development in the built environment, and set the standard for new academic establishments in the UK. We recommend a challenging, symbolic and practical target for the campus:
Swindon target: to cut CO2 emissions associated with energy consumption by 60% compared to a current building regulations baseline ("the C60 target"), through leading edge design coupled with site-integrated renewable energy generation.
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Strategy recommendations
In creating a set of strategy recommendations for the University, a whole-organisation approach has been followed, which may be considered as an approach replicable in higher education institutions across the UK. The strategy recommendations fall into three groups:
Three recommendations concern the long-term enablement of a low-carbon future, and comprise relatively high-level, strategic interventions:
A: Adopt a low carbon vision, targets and strategy for the University and ensure commitment to it by seeking its formal adoption by the University Council.
B: Nominate an executive board-level director and a senior academic to be responsible for ownership and delivery of the low carbon strategy, and the incorporation of sustainability and carbon emission reduction objectives into corporate plans.
C: Form a new 'Sustainability and Low Carbon Committee', subsuming the current energy committee, and based around a revised Low Carbon Energy and Water Policy
Three recommendations help to ensure the effective delivery of the low carbon objectives, and comprise practical approaches to delivery:
D: Develop and maintain an effective energy and emissions information system incorporating data collection, analysis and reporting of energy and emissions performance to the four primary audiences (technical, management, staff/students and external stakeholders).
E: Develop and maintain an energy and CO2 emissions reduction plan which integrates with the University's existing Property Services and Transport strategies to demonstrate how targets could be achieved.
F: Adopt a funding strategy to underpin carbon emissions reduction projects, based on a combination of ring-fencing internal funding from energy savings, private and public sector investment, and UK government grants
Five recommendations represent individual interventions or processes, which either lead to emissions reduction directly or are essential components of the overall strategy:
G: Achieve wide participation in the creation of local, visible, low-carbon projects and initiatives.
H: Embed sustainability and low carbon objectives in all existing procurement processes for the Claverton Down campus and for the Swindon campus development.
I: Ensure that the low-carbon vision is reflected in the University's brand and marketing messages, training and induction of staff and students, and in internal communications.
J: Adopt a challenging 60% cut in CO2 emissions over a 'business as usual' benchmark as a single compelling environmental vision and technical objective for the new campus for the new University of Bath at Swindon.
K: Extract full emissions reduction potential from the University's Green Transport Plan by embedding the plan within the University's low carbon strategy, and by adopting emissions reduction goals linked to specific actions.
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Implementation planning
The process of consultation, analysis, discussion and refinement by which the current strategy recommendations have been derived is arguably as important as the final recommendations themselves. The same will be true of the University's adoption of these recommendations and delivery of the strategy and targets. Delivering the targets depends on the strategy being owned and driven by key individuals, high level support being given, a wide range of individual stakeholders being engaged and empowered, continuous communication taking place, and the process being kept dynamic.
Individual interventions and projects are proposed throughout the strategy recommendations and guidance. Certain of these lend themselves to more immediate action, and may be candidates for further support from the Carbon Trust. It is recommended that the following short- to medium-term priorities be addressed:
Initiative and details of project/activity C02 savings, tCO2 (est) Priority, H /M / L Feasibility, Hard / Easy Resource requirement Indicative timescale
Launch Carbon Committee, Select members and implement strategy and projects 0 H E Management time Q4 2003
Develop the Estate Energy Data Model with M&T report strategy 815 H H System design support and modest investment Q4 2003 to Q1 2004
Initiate campus wide carbon management good house-keeping - linked to M&T and BMS strategy 400 H E Management time and system design support Q1-Q4 2004
Set-up Carbon Transport Programme - Mgt Info, carshare scheme, public transport incentives and pilot cap and trade quota market system 490 M H Management time and scheme design support Q2 2004
Review CHP operating regime and connect CHP water cooling jacket to local plantrooms, seek Community Energy Programme capital support 1,483 M E Design and Technical Support and Investment Q4 2003
Provide sustainability support for 4W re-build - ensure lessons inform future refurbishments 590 H E Design Support Q3 2003
Renewable Energy options appraisal - eg Bath\Swindon Campus Wind Turbine and Biomass Heat 5,800 L E Feasibility and Business Case Support Q3 2004
Provide sustainability support at masterplanning phase of Swindon Campus 5,000 to 10,000 H E Management time and design support Q2 2004
This report is divided into a summary of strategy recommendations, which provides an overview of each of the eleven recommendations, followed by guidance and implementation support, in the form of separate chapters explaining each summary recommendation in greater detail and providing practical guidance on implementation. Further, more detailed advice is contained in the Appendices.
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