University saved on heating bill

A green campus initiative is behind a measurable drop in the size of the University of Copenhagen’s heating bill. This is according to the University of Copenhagen’s Green Campus initiative.

The University of Copenhagen has reduced total energy costs by nine per cent in one year corresponding to a DKK 9.8 million saving in 2009 compared to the year before. The heating costs are corrected for temperature-days.

»From the environment perspective, the University of Copenhagen needs to take responsibility for its climate impact. But it also makes good economic sense to reduce energy costs,« says Tomas Refslund Poulsen, team leader at the Green Campus initiative.

Technical fixes, new behaviour

The University of Copenhagen spent DKK 177 million on energy in 2009, but with the initiative, the bill will be DKK 40 million less in 2013, according to the projections.

The overall ambition is to save energy costs and CO2 emissions of 20 per cent by 2013 compared to the 2006 benchmark.

Key changes since 2007 and 2008, where energy costs increased in spite of the campaign, include technical improvements and the use of more energy-modernised buildings. But the Green Campus group also points to changes in behaviour among staff and students.

Green campaign

This is going to be the focus of a campaign that is slated to start 8 November.

»The 250 volunteer ‘green ambassadors’ throughout the campus are playing a key role in ensuring that environment-friendly and energy-efficient habits are on the agenda every day. We hope that they again will play a leading role,« says Tomas Refslund Poulsen.

miy@adm.ku.dk