University gets £3m grant to reduce carbon footprint
A grant worth more than £3m has been awarded to the University of Portsmouth, bringing it a step closer to its ambition of becoming climate positive by 2030.
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant was awarded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and is delivered by Salix Finance. The grant will contribute to work to buildings on the university campus, including the library, Anglesea teachingbuildingandstudent accommodation, Harry Law Halls.
The grant will enable the universitytomakeanumberof improvements to these buildings which make them more energy efficient and avoid the use of fossil fuels – reducing their carbon footprint. Upgrades will include replacing thecurrentfossil-fuelledheating plants with all electric air source heat pumps powered by renewable electricity.
High impact fabric and efficiencyimprovementswillalsotakeplace,suchasreplacing the original single glazing in the library and insulating the wallcavitiesinAngleseabuilding. New building managementcontrolswillensurethat energyuseinthebuildingscan bemoretightlycontrolledand adapt to the specific environment and temperature. In addition, old fluorescent lights will be replaced with newer more efficient LEDs.
Bernie Topham, chief operatingofficeratUoP,said:‘We haveanambitioustargetofbecoming a climate positive universityby2030andthisguides everyaspectofouroperations – from development of our campus and environmentally friendly catering to sustainable corporate systems and proceduresand,ofcourse,our world leading research. This awardisanotherbigstepinour journey to get there.’
Ian Rodger, director of programmes at Salix Finance, added: ‘We are delighted to be working with the University of Portsmouth on their decarbonisation journey driving down carbon emissions. The university is working hard to meet its ambitions to become a climate positive university by 2030 and we will be here to supportthem.‘Theuniversity has already made significant progress and we look forward to the next step.’ Measures alreadytakenbyUoPtoimprove itsimpactontheenvironment include using 100 per cent renewableelectricity,increasing its recycling rate from 40 per cent to 70 per cent since 2011.