Energy Efficiency in Your Building
The University is implementing a number of projects to reduce its energy consumption (e.g. installing insulation), but there is a lot that you can do to help.
The University has recently secured £1.5 million from the Carbon Trust and the University to put towards energy-saving projects. Please help us to identify projects we can spend this money on.
Heating
Is your office too cold?
Before you turn up your heating, stop to consider whether this is really necessary. Could you put on a jumper instead? Please bear in mind any colleagues who share your office - they may not want the heating turned up. Try to keep your office within the recommended range of temperatures, 18-21C. Higher temperatures allow germs to breed more easily, and can make you lethargic.
Please do not turn your radiator on full - the temperature will continue to rise in an escalating spiral. Setting your radiator at between 2 and 3 should regulate the temperature at 21C. Do not expect the temperature to change immediately - it may take up to an hour for your office to adjust to any change to the radiator setting.
If you would like a free thermometer to monitor your office temperature, please contact the Environment Team. Please note that these themometers are only available for use within St Andrews University. If you cannot adjust your temperature to above 18C by turning up your radiator, please contact the Environment Team.
Is your office too hot?
As mentioned above, the recommended office temperature is 18-21C. You can try and achieve this temperature by adjusting your radiator and opening the window. Please turn off your radiator before opening the window.
If you are unable to get your office temperature within this range by adjusting your radiators and opening the window, or would like a thermometer to monitor the temperature, please contact the Environment Team. Please note that these thermometers are only available for use within St Andrews University.
Corridors
As no one is specifically responsible for monitoring the radiators in corridors, these can be easily overlooked. If you pass a radiator that is turned up higher than it needs to be, please turn it down/off. Some radiators do not have TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves), and cannot be adjusted individually. If you come across any of these, please let the Environment Team know.
Lighting
The University is gradually replacing all of its lights with more energy efficient ones. However, a lot of energy can be saved simply by switching off lights that are not needed. Please:
- switch off any lights when you are the last to leave a room. Even if you are only planning on leaving for a few minutes, it is still worth it (you never know if you may get delayed or sidetracked). Switching lights on and off does NOT use more energy than leaving them on.
- make sure that you switch off any lights before you go home in the evening.
- make use of daylight - switch off your lights on sunny days.
Computers
The large number of computers in the University means that these contribute a significant amount to the energy consumption of the University. You can help to reduce this in a number of ways. Please:
- Switch off your monitor when you are leaving your desk for more than a couple of minutes. Up to two thirds of a computer's energy is used by the monitor.
- Switch off your computer if you are leaving your desk for more than an hour.
- Don't automatically switch on your computer when you arrive in the morning - only switch it on when you first need it.
- Change the settings on your computer so that the computer monitor powers down if it has not been used in 5 minutes. Screen savers do not save energy.
Other equipment
- Don't automatically switch on printers, photocopiers, etc when you first arrive in the morning. Only switch them on when you need them.
- Switch off equipment when you go home in the evenings.