Anglia Ruskin University

The Re:fit programme is a procurement initiative supporting the public sector to implement measures to improve energy efficiency. The framework uses an energy performance contracting (EPC) approach which enables organisations to achieve significant financial savings and energy performance improvements. Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) began work under the framework in 2021 with its EPC partner Vital Energi.

An Energy Partnership in Action

The EPC supports ARU’s overarching goal to reach zero emissions by 2045, including indirect Scope 3 emissions. The agreement was facilitated by public sector support agency Local Partnerships under the Re:fit Framework. It guarantees energy and carbon reductions over an agreed timescale.

Working in partnership with Vital Energi, ARU has made significant progress on its energy savings agenda. ARU has split its energy reduction programme into three distinct phases.

In each phase, ARU and Vital Energi follow the same four-stage approach:

• A high-level assessment of buildings identifies potential energy saving measures, indicative costs and estimated savings.
• Investment grade proposals of measures are agreed, involving more detailed feasibility surveys, fixed costs based on quotes from suppliers and guaranteed savings.
• Works are implemented to install and implement agreed measures.
• Monitoring and verification is carried out to ensure the measures perform as expected and verify that the guaranteed savings are being achieved.

Energy and carbon savings

Phase one of the programme focused on energy efficiency measures at ARU’s teaching and residential buildings on the Cambridge and Chelmsford campuses. This included LED lighting upgrades, building management system controls and plantroom insulation. This phase cost£860,560, with an estimated payback of under six years. This will cut the University’s carbon emissions by over 185 tonnes per year. hase two focussed on installing 356 kW of rooftop solar panels, building management system controls and plantroom insulation. The works cost £708,199 with an estimated payback of 7 years. This will reduce carbon emissions by 87 tonnes per year.

Phase three will most likely tackle cooling optimisation technology in the University’s buildings. The first stage will involve a high-level assessment of ARU’s major cooling requirements including air handlers, air conditioning and the University’s data centre. The programme has been so successful that ARU has extended it to create a fourth phase which will tackle the challenging area of heat decarbonisation.

Benefits

• Guaranteed energy and carbon savings which are underwritten by the energy performance contractor.
• Programme of works evaluated and implemented at scale and at pace.
• Engages the senior leadership in the sustainability and decarbonisation agenda.
• Legal, technical and financial issues defined through the Re:fit
• Unlock the barriers to decarbonisation through a secure framework approach