Reduce, decarbonise and be smart

Gerard Hunter believes too many efforts to tackle climate change are driven by perception and being seen to adhere to the demand for action, rather than implementing substantive change

 

The United Kingdom’s crucial ‘Net Zero’ target – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 per cent relative to 1990 levels by 2050 – is a highly scrutinised and ambitious aim, to which unprecedented amounts of finance and aid has been committed.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in his budget a £30bn injection into Britain’s Net Zero strategy. More than £1.2trn is spent globally each year to promote sustainable practices across the planet, in search of achieving the universally accepted target. Currently, 87 per cent of the £1.2trn budget goes into research and investment into sustainable sources of energy.

Simply put, 87 per cent is too much, leaving the budget distribution uneven. Only 13 per cent of the remaining budget is invested in efforts to fundamentally use less energy. Windfarms and buildings bearing solar panels currently generate the most media interest, and investment from governments and corporations around the world. As a collective society, too many efforts to tackle climate change are currently driven by perception and being seen to adhere to the demand for action, rather than implementing truly substantive and effective change.

But while solar farms, tidal wave plants and other renewable energy sources are sustainable in practice, their ultimate existence comes down to the necessity to meet an ever-increasing demand to useenergy, and not save it.

In addition to Net Zero, another universally agreed climate target is currently at risk with the current spending practices in place. To limit global warming to 1.5°C this century, as set out in the Paris Agreement, estimates suggest that the current 13 per cent investment figure must be dramatically increased, to reach between 30 and 40 per cent of global sustainability expenditure. In other words, in a budget containing more than £1.2trn, hundreds of billions of pounds need to be invested in practices that reduce energy consumption across the globe. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the most sustainable energy is the energy we do not use.

Sometimes the simplest approaches can be the most effective, and that’s the strategy we’ve adopted at the University of Warwick. As an institution, we know we have an urgent need and responsibility to be more energy efficient and as such, we’ve focused on three key components: reducing, decarbonising and being smart.

Reduce Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions

We must make a concerted effort to collectively reduce our energy consumption levels in daily life. All organisations, irrespective of size, should have their own standards to aspire to, and to compare their progress against.

For example, through the ‘Warwick Standard’, we are striving to be more efficient about our campus’ buildings, and even how we build them. Since 2017, the University has developed all capital projects to comply with an energy-low carbon strategy, achieving a minimum 30 per cent improvement on building regulations, and 10 of our 17 buildings in Academic Square place in the top quartile of energy use nationally.

By putting aspirations and standards in writing, they become more achievable.

Those serious about reducing their energy consumption will yield the best results with innovative thinking and intricate planning. From the first shovel in the ground, to the finishing touches of a construction project, energy can be saved at every stage.

It’s also possible to reduce energy consumption in construction. Considering transportation and recycling materials and supplies, and whether or not construction is done on-or-off-site, up to 50 per cent of energy and carbon emissions can be saved.

Sustainable sources of energy are still vitally important if global Net Zero and global warming goals are to be achieved. Our most recent residential buildings, providing accommodation to more than 800 students, has implemented low carbon heating technologies, such as heating pumps. Landlords, offices and even regional development projects have the opportunity to do the same- only to a much greater scale- across their own organisations.

Smart building technology must be utilised and adapted in all new buildings and implemented into current ones wherever possible.

A building becomes ‘smart’ when its core systems within it are linked through sensors, building management systems and artificial intelligence. Lighting, plumbing, water meters, power, pumps, fire alarms and other components can all be efficiently monitored and managed to maximise a building’s energy efficiency. It simply comes down to those responsible to ensure that a building is using its energy as effectively as possible.

Businesses and institutions must be brave and prepared to go venture where others have not. In our current climate fight, we need pilots, pioneers, risk takers and big thinkers.

For example, A ‘SMART Campus’ pilot scheme is currently underway at the University, where a cluster of buildings representing 10 per cent of our overall energy demand is being used to assess the energy and carbon reduction opportunities through improved energy management, low carbon heating technologies, and machine learning.

We are becoming increasingly more energy efficient but understand more must be done. Collectively, across our research, innovation and leadership teams we understand that Net Zero is not enough; we must go beyond, and fundamentally reduce current energy consumption levels.

We must reduce, decarbonise and be smart.

 

• Gerard Hunter is head of building services and infrastructure, estates, the University of Warwick