The University of Stirling is ranked first in the Scottish higher education sector of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) performance league table.
Stirling is ranked 16th overall in the UK league table in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
The mandatory programme, introduced by the UK Government in 2008, is an emissions trading scheme that aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through energy efficiency.
Stirling’s Carbon Management Plan commits the organisation to a target of reducing CO2 by 20 per cent by 2012/13, with potential financial savings of around £4.6 million. Energy saving projects carried out on campus include the re-cladding and insulation of the main academic building, renewal of the boiler system to Pathfoot building, insulation of plant rooms across the campus, and a range of works to its building management systems to improve the control of heating and lighting.
More recently, as part of the Low Carbon Challenge in partnership with Going Carbon Neutral Stirling, University staff launched a 'Cycle Train' from Dunblane to reduce car use.
University of Stirling Head of Operational Risk and Environmental Sustainability, David Duckett said: “The University is fully committed to reducing its carbon emissions through implementation of a wide range of energy saving projects, including changes to the physical infrastructure and encouraging staff and students to save energy.
“This year, the CRC league table ranks organisations on the steps they have taken to install energy monitoring equipment, such as smart meters, and compliance with The Carbon Trust standards of energy management. It is encouraging to see our efforts reflected by our high position in the CRC energy efficiency league.
“The University has already saved over 2 million kg of CO2 from being emitted since the launch of its Carbon Management plan.”
Going Carbon Neutral Stirling (GCNS) has worked closely with Stirling University over the years to deliver a range of projects to help reduce carbon emissions such as the recent ‘Big Bike Fun Day’ which took place on campus.
GCNS Business Carbon Reduction and Policy Officer, Joe Hind, said: “We have seen first-hand the commitment shown by senior management towards sustainability and the efforts being made to consider the environmental impact of the University's activities across the board.
“Recently we have been delivering an innovative staff engagement project aimed at changing behaviour in the key areas of transport, energy and waste. For this the University joined our business network, the Low Carbon Alliance, and has again shown itself to be ready and willing to try new things to combat carbon emissions.
“Overall the University has been a real enabler for our work, inviting us to their regular ‘green champion’ meetings and allowing all kinds of activities on campus, all with maximum support and a minimum of fuss."
As part of The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, the University monitors energy use and buys allowances from the Government for each tonne of CO2 it emits. The more CO2 it emits, the more allowances it must purchase.
At the end of each year, organisations have to surrender the allowances equivalent to the actual CO2 emitted during the year. In addition to this, a performance league table is produced to show the comparative performance of all organisations in reducing their emissions. The better an organisation performs, the higher it will appear in the league table.