DE MONTFORT University has been measuring the amount of low carbon energy used across ALL its facilities for many years as part of a drive to reduce emissions.
The reporting of total energy used and the proportion made up of low carbon fuels includes not only all the buildings on its Leicester campus, but also the student halls of residence owned by DMU at New Wharf Hall and Bede Hall.
Low carbon energy sources now make up nearly half of all energy used across the university estate at 48.9%, the 2024-25 figures show.
A total of 44,961.68 gigajoules of low carbon energy was used during the year out of a total energy use of 91,925 gigajoules.
The tracking of low carbon energy usage is part of a concerted campaign to drive down the university’s emissions and has been on-going since 2005.
Karl Letten, the Sustainability Manager at DMU, said: “The tracking of low carbon energy use and total energy usage across all buildings is extremely important to us as a university.
“It helps us reduce the amount of energy used and drives down emissions which are important as the university has acknowledged a climate emergency and needs to lead by example.”
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Year
|
Total energy used
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Low carbon energy use
|
|
2024/25
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91,925 gigajoules (GJ)
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44,961.68 gigajoules (GJ)
|
|
2023/24
|
92,653 GJ
|
45,457 GJ
|
|
2022/23
|
98,506 GJ
|
45,274 GJ
|
|
2021/22
|
117,440 GJ
|
58,814 GJ
|
This work, aided by the tracking, meant that the 2024/25 figure for total energy use was 25,515 gigajoules lower than the figure for 2021/22.
The university takes a comprehensive approach to measuring and reporting its carbon (greenhouse gas) emissions and works to reduce emissions not only through the management of its estate and operations but also through the engagement and education of its students and staff.
The university has produced a Carbon Management Plan which sets out how DMU plans to further reduce its carbon emissions.
The university has set itself demanding targets for reducing its carbon emissions. These targets include carbon emissions from energy use and DMU owned vehicles (scope 1 and 2 emissions).
These emissions are down more than 62 per cent according to the 2024-25 figures on the 2005-06 baseline established.