Birkbeck's Energy Policy

As an expression of responsible corporate citizenship, the College is committed to minimising the adverse environmental impacts of its activities through the reduction of energy and water consumption. The objectives of Birkbeck’s overall sustainability policies are contained in the Environmental/sustainability policy statement. This policy forms part of that statement and is intended to detail Birkbeck’s objectives for the management of energy and the reduction of its carbon emissions.

It is the College’s policy to comply fully with the requirements of environmental legislation and advisory codes of practice having official status. The College will, however, exceed these requirements where it is practicable for it to do so and there can be shown to be definite environmental benefits.

The College’s energy policy, together with its detailed targets and performance indicators, is as follows:

Energy consumption

The College is committed to reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by increasing the efficiency of energy consumption, by procuring electricity from ‘green’ sources, either through the purchase of ‘green’ electricity, or through the use of renewable energies (if economically viable), and by providing training and support to staff and students to maximise the potential impact of ‘good housekeeping’.

Detailed targets:

• Reduce total carbon emissions by at least 10% by 2012 compared to financial year (FY) 2005/06 values, by at least 20% by 2020 compared to FY 2005/06 values, and by 60% by 2050 compared to FY 2005/06 values. Data on FY 2005/06 carbon emissions is given as an Annex to this Policy.
• Progressively reduce carbon emissions from the use of energy and water, staff business travel, staff and student travel to College premises and from the procurement of goods and services (measured in kilogrammes of carbon per m2 of floor space) each year.

Methodology

• Meet any increase in the College’s electricity requirements by purchasing from green suppliers where this can be clearly demonstrated to give actual reductions in carbon emissions.
• Monitor energy consumption across the College’s estate.
• Monitor staff business travel, staff and student travel to College premises and the use of goods and services in order to calculate annual carbon emissions.
• Use monitoring information to compare performance with published benchmarks, and the College’s targets for the reduction of carbon emissions.
• Install more efficient technologies where it is economical and practical.
• Specify energy efficient appliances and equipment.
• Ensure all new students and interested stakeholders receive a guidance note on appropriate ‘good housekeeping’ measures and information on the College’s energy policy and targets.
• Ensure all new staff are made aware of the College’s energy policy and targets.

Water usage

The College will review opportunities and implement measures to reduce the use of water.

Detailed targets:

• Progressively to reduce total water usage per capita (staff and students).
• Reduce water usage to meet the Watermark Best Practice value of 0.4 m3 per m2 of floor area by FY 2015/16.

Methodology

• Monitor water consumption across the College’s estate.
• Use monitoring information to develop benchmarks against which targets can be set to reduce water consumption.
• Install more efficient technologies where it is economical and practical.
• Specify water efficient appliances and equipment where appropriate.

New building and refurbishment of existing buildings

The College will ensure that the design and specification of any new building or refurbishment includes the widest possible consideration of environmental impacts in order to minimise carbon emissions to the atmosphere as far as is practically and financially viable.

Methodology

• To utilise the Carbon Trust Design Advice Scheme (or another appropriate Environmental Assessment methodology) for every new building or major refurbishment.
• To ensure that as far as practicable, new buildings and refurbishments of existing buildings are constructed to the detailed specifications provided by the Environmental Management Committee and College Estates Management. 

Implementation

Responsibility for implementing and adhering to this Energy Policy lies with the Environmental Management Committee and College Estates Management.  The policy applies to all bodies under the control of the College, and all College sites.

The College is committed to monitoring of the progress of its Energy Policy. An annual report describing progress towards its policy objectives will be submitted to the Building Committee and posted as a public access document on the College website. Targets for the reduction of carbon emissions will be reviewed annually.