University of the West of England

UWE Bristol is on track to achieve its ambitious carbon reduction plans with an overall target to be carbon neutral with zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The university also set out a two-year Climate and Sustainability Plan in 2024, developed in line with the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), with short term SMART targets that work in tandem with the institution’s longer-term commitments.

A sustainability success story

Usually we have this header as ‘An Energy Partnership in Action’ but this didn’t feel an appropriate sub head here

UWE Bristol has taken a wide-ranging approach to decarbonise its operations. These cover energy management, heat and electricity decarbonisation, renewable energy deployment and sustainable infrastructure investment.

The University’s sustainability achievements have been recognised in a variety of awards. UWE Bristol won the Sustainability Institute of the Year at the UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards in 2023. The University was also named in the top 50 in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings of institutions pursuing sustainable development goals.

UWE Bristol has also shared best practice with the TEC membership. This included presenting about the University’s carbon reduction programme at TEC’s annual conference in November 2023.

Energy and carbon savings

UWE Bristol has invested in extensive carbon reduction measures to meet the institution’s net zero targets.

Highlights include:

• £85 million in new Passivhaus student accommodation, the largest development of its kind in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. The buildings will yield a 54% reduction in running costs and carbon emissions compared with a typical ‘good practice’ building.
• Significant investment in solar generation. In the 2022/23 academic year these generated 456 MWh, saving 94 tonnes of CO2 and reducing UWE Bristol operating costs by £114,000
• Development of the Frenchay campus district heat network, with installation of a combined heat and power plant (CHP) to displace gas.
• Development of UWE Bristol’s sustainable School of Engineering building on the Frenchay campus which achieved an “Excellent” rating for its green credentials from the international scheme BREEAM.
• Purchasing 20% of all the University’s electricity from a power purchase agreement. This supports UK onshore wind with the electricity generated from several Statkraft wind farms. The remainder of the University’s electricity is purchased from the grid under a zero-carbon contract.

Benefits

• Engaging staff and students in the University’s ambitious sustainability agenda.
• Gaining buy-in from senior leaders to support decarbonisation.
• Recognition through a variety of awards.
• Sharing success with other institutions and being a leading light in the higher education sector.
• Providing opportunities for academics and students to research analyse and learn from the university’s environment and estate, formalised officially through the launch of UWE Bristol’s Living Lab.