Carbon footprint
Loughborough University's Council has made a strategic commitment to environmental sustainability through its research, teaching, enterprise and operational activity.
At its meeting on 28th November 2008, Council made a commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 2% above the expectation for the Higher Education sector and to make reductions on a year-on-year basis for the next five years. The baseline year is 2007/8. The data will be reported by m2 area covered by the data being reported.
The target reduction for 2008/9 was 5% reduction on this baseline year.
The calculation is based on:
- Energy and gas use (over University buildings excluding tenanted areas and the Students' Union (279,642 m2 in 2007/8 and 283,141m2 in 2008/9)).
- Waste disposal (over 341,499 m2 including some tenanted areas and excluding the Students' Union).
- Travel in fleet vehicles managed by Facilities Management.
- Business travel through the University's two main suppliers and travel claims based on one quarter assumed to be representative for the year (over University buildings excluding tenanted areas and the Students Union (279,642 m2 in 2007/8 and 283,141m2 in 2008/9)).
| Tonnes of CO2 per m2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2007/8 | 2008/9 | |
| Energy and Gas | 88.9315 | 87.43 |
| Waste | 1.3382 | 2.57 |
| Business Travel | 4.3341 | 4.9551 |
| Fleet Travel | 0.0001394 | 0.0001089 |
| Total Carbon | 94.60 | 94.95 |
One of the reasons for not achieving the 5% target was the colder weather experienced in 2008/9. Analysis with a weather adjustment by degree days shows an in excess of 5% reduction in energy use.
The University will be setting targets for 2010 and beyond which use absolute figures and reflect targets to be set by HEFCE by the end of 2009.
The University has made a commitment to both publish and reduce its carbon footprint as part of the Business in the Community Mayday pledges.
