University wins £3.3m decarbonisation grant as it heads towards ‘net zero’
University will create its own energy 'micro-grid' using renewable sources
The University of Bradford has won £3.3m in government funding to push ahead with its ambition to become carbon neutral in the next five years.
An additional £835,000 has also been pledged by the University - together, this will help save over 500 tonnes of carbon a year.
Measures will include replacement of fossil fuel gas heating with air source heat pumps and the installation of solar panels on the Unique Sports Centre and Horton D buildings. New LED lighting will also be installed in the JB Priestley Library and ventilation will be upgraded in the ICT building.
Net zero
Vice Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon said: “We recognise our local, national and international responsibilities to support positive action in addressing the challenges of climate change, and this project represents an exciting step in the decarbonisation of our campus.”
Under the plans, the University will create a full ‘micro-grid’ across its estate, while also supporting academic and research engagement opportunities to create an educational legacy from the project.
The University launched its Sustainable Development Programme in November last year. It also sent a delegation of staff and students to COP26, and was granted permanent ‘observer status’ by the UN, meaning it can attend all future conferences.
In recent weeks, it has also gained Hedgehog Friendly status from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, and has plans to 're-wild' parts of its campus. Additionally, all film studies courses now adopt the ‘Albert’ industry standard for ensuring sustainable practice.
The Funding Body
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) is a government funded grant scheme for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. Phase 3 of the PSDS provided £1.425 billion of funding over the period 2022/23 to 2024/25.