Environmental and Energy Awareness

One of the main commitments of the University's Environmental Policy is to increase awareness of environmental responsibilities among staff and students.

The University's Environmental Policy (updated 2014) can be accessed here: Environmental Policy

View the University's Environmental Objectives for 2015-2017 here: Environmental Objectives 2015-2017

Energy Conservation

Carbon and energy management are critical if we are to grow an efficient, effective and sustainable enterprise. Benchmarked against our group peers, the University is one of the more energy efficient users. We have a good record in managing energy, and have implemented a significant number of projects to reduce consumption and costs. We are also striving to build the most energy efficient buildings possible. Furthermore, recent years has seen a step change in the way that energy and utility data is managed; and we are now better placed than ever to assess the effectiveness of the measures we implement.

In addition to the work of the Estates Directorate we also rely on others throughout the University to help us reduce our energy use. Fifty percent of Queen’s carbon emissions are under the direct control of the end user, so staff and students have a key role to play in helping the University achieve its target.

For more information about energy and carbon savings please see our presentation: Energy and Carbon Pres
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It should not be assumed that it is someone else's responsibility to conserve energy and protect the environment. IT IS EVERYONE'S!!

We need your help to reduce the University’s impact on the environment!

The biggest factor in reducing energy consumption is YOU, the building user.  Many of the things you can do are simple and obvious.

So how can you ‘do your bit’?

  • Enable the power down features on your PC - Screen savers do not save energy.  Switch off your PC monitor when you are not using it, for example when you go to meetings or for lunch.  A monitor uses about two-thirds of a PCs total electricity. If left on overnight wastes enough energy to laser print 800 A4 pages
  • Switch office equipment off at night. A photocopier left on overnight uses enough energy to make 5,300 photocopies
  • Switch off research/ lab equipment when not in use
  • Switch off lights if you are leaving the room for longer than 15 minutes - it is a myth that it is cheaper to leave fluorescent lights on than to switch them off
  • Switch off lights when you go home - lighting an empty office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1000 cups of coffee
  • Maximise the use of natural daylight and switch off lights when daylight is adequate
  • Close windows, especially at the end of each day.  A window left open overnight wastes enough energy to drive a small car 35 miles
  • Thermostatic radiator valves, where fitted, should be set to a mid position and not left in the fully open position
  • Individually, by undertaking these simple practices, small savings can be made which will add up collectively to large savings in energy use.

Click here to download an Energy Action Plan Toolkit

For more information on how to save energy in the University, get involved with our environmental initiatives, or just to learn more about leading a sustainable lifestyle in general please see the University's Carbon Management site.