Heating controls 'to make university energy efficient'

Article date : 29/07/2009

Written by Jasper Cullen

Heating controls at Cambridge University is one of the steps the establishment has taken in order to make its buildings more energy efficient, a claim has suggested.

Speaking to the Guardian, Richard Rugg, head advisor to the public sector at the Carbon Trust, said as well as improving cooling and heating controls, the university had insulated its building stock and fitted automatic lights.

His comments came after the launch of a new consultation from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), which has urged universities to reduce their carbon emission levels.

Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK - which has joined with the HEFCE for the consultation - said: "Universities, as educators, have been playing a vital role in moving this agenda forward and seeking a reduction in carbon emissions is key to this."

Heating controls could also be a wise idea for homeowners. One heating control is a cylinder thermostat, which switches the heat supply that comes from a boiler on and off as necessary.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, this can save people £25 a year and 120kg of carbon dioxide emissions.

ADNFCR-1600-ID-19289114-ADNFCR