St Catharine's is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, which includes considering how we can reduce our energy usage.
We saved over 400,000 kW h of gas last year thanks to upgrades in specific rooms and our College-wide heating policy. To reduce our carbon emissions by 2040, we’ll need to take care with our energy consumption – particularly during winter.
How can we reduce our energy use this year and still feel comfortable?
- Close windows, turn down the heat and turn off lights when leaving a room
- Warm yourself with layers of clothes or a hot drink before adjusting radiators
- Turn off radiators before opening any windows
- Don't cover radiators as this stops heat from warming a room
- Turn down radiators at night to promote better sleep and save energy
- Only leave applicances switched on and plugged in if they need to be on
What is the College doing to help?
- Progressing plans for ~200 roof-mounted solar panels
- Replacing lighting with LED bulbs
- Installing smart thermostats in even more rooms
- Responding quickly to maintenance tickets about heating problems
- Installing washing lines so clothes can be dried otudoors and off-site properties
- Auditing insulation and building fabric
- Producing new advice on how to use our laundry facilities as efficiently as possible
