Green thinking at the University of Essex means it is among the best universities in the country for taking early action to be more energy efficient according to a league table published by Times Higher Education (THE).

Essex is ranked third out of all universities according to the data gathered on private and public sector organisations across the UK as part of the Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment energy efficiency scheme.

This year’s rankings are based on early action to manage energy use including achieving the Carbon Trust Standard and installing automatic meter reading for gas and electricity.

The University’s Energy Manager Richard Frost, who oversaw the University’s achievement of the Carbon Trust Standard, said: “We need to continue to find new and innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint and we are committed to doing that.”

Carbon Change Advisor Dan Dempsey said staff across the Estates Management Section are working hard to help improve the University’s energy efficiency. He said: “We have been able to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard by putting in place a very tough carbon management plan which commits us to reducing our CO2 emissions by 43 per cent by 2020.

“We also have automatic meter reading across 97 per cent of our estate which gives us a much clearer picture about where we are using energy and how we can control it in the future.”

Future league tables will be based on efforts to improve energy efficiency with the early action measures having less impact. In the coming years improvements and changes in absolute emissions will have a bigger role in the rankings.

As part of its ongoing sustainability strategy, the University is looking at its whole environmental footprint including procurement, travel and waste management. It is also ensuring all new buildings are designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, reviewing greener ways of providing heat and power on its campuses and identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency on all refurbishment projects.

One of the highest profile 'green projects' at the University is the new Essex Business School building, due to open in early 2014. The design will emphasise sustainability and will be designed to be fully carbon neutral.

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Notes to Editors

For more information please contact the University of Essex Communications Office on 01206 874377 or e-mail comms@essex.ac.uk

Full details of the league table are published on the THE website.