皇家华人

The renewal of UCL鈥檚 buildings and facilities is offering multiple opportunities to contribute to its institutional target of being net-zero carbon by 2030.

UCL has听set challenging targets for听improving听energy efficiency in听its听new and existing buildings, as part of its institutional commitment to achieving net-zero carbon听university听by 2030.听听听

鈥淲e expect all听the听initiatives听to听improve our buildings and facilities, whether large new-builds听or听small improvements听to听adopt a 鈥榝abric first鈥� approach to building design 鈥� prioritising passive solutions听that听reduce energy听demand,听such as natural ventilation, improved insulation and airtightness, while听minimising the need for mechanical and electrical services, which consume energy,鈥� explains Ben Stubbs (Sustainable UCL).听

Larger projects must听set targets听to听minimise energy听consumption听in relation to best practice industry听guidelines.听

鈥淭he听design of the newly built 皇家华人听Student Centre听is听based on highly efficient building fabric.听The concrete used in the building helps to absorb and releases heat slowly,鈥� explains Ben. 鈥淭his听helps to regulate temperature and听supports the building鈥檚 natural ventilation strategy.鈥澨�

The ongoing renewal and maintenance of UCL鈥檚 estate is also providing opportunities to embrace energy-saving alternatives.听The university has听insulated roofs, replaced boilers with more efficient models,听installed听double-glazing听and听replaced inefficient lighting with new LED technology in听a number of听our larger buildings.听UCL听has also connected its听room booking system with the heating control system to ensure rooms听are only听heated听when they are in use.听

鈥淭ogether, these improvements will contribute to a huge saving in energy use across our campuses,鈥� adds Ben.听

Where feasible,听UCL is听also听incorporating听on-site听low or听zero-carbon energy听technologies听such as solar panels and heat pumps听across its campus, reducing听its use of听carbon-generating sources.听听

For example,听250听square metres听of photovoltaic panels听were听installed听on the Student Centre. Along with the other solar panel installations across our buildings, in 2019 they generated a total of听70,000kWh 鈥� enough to make 1.9 million cups of tea.