Decarbonising Universities: Case Study of the University of Exeter’s Green Strategy Plans Based on Analysing Its Energy Demand in 2012–2020

George Chaplin, Mahdieh Dibaj and Mohammad Akrami
Additional contact information
George Chaplin: Department of Engineering, College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK
Mahdieh Dibaj: Department of Engineering, College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK
Mohammad Akrami: Department of Engineering, College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-34

Abstract: This study investigates the carbon footprint of the University of Exeter by analysing its energy consumption between 2012 and 2020 to assess its current standing in the process of achieving carbon neutrality. The study then explores the possible methods of reaching this target in line with the University of Exeter’s Environment & Climate Emergency Policy Statement. The leading part of the statement is as follows: “All Campus activities/operations shall have a carbon net zero impact and or result in environmental gain by 2030 and aims to be carbon net zero by 2050 (accounting for all associated activities and Scope 3 footprint)”. Using methods of energy consumption reduction, a new carbon footprint for Scope 1 and 2 emissions was calculated for the year 2030, which included phasing out oil and gas and swapping out inefficient systems, such as old heating or lighting. This reduced the emissions from 17.24 ktCO 2 e to 3.34 ktCO 2 e also greatly helped by the reduction in electricity grid conversion factors. The remaining emissions would be reduced further to net zero by on site solar and offsite wind investment.

Keywords: decarbonisation; cleaner production; university; renewable energy; net zero (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/7/4085/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/7/4085/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:4085-:d:783080

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().