Green Gown Awards 2016 – Carbon Reduction – University of Lincoln– Finalist

Saving space – The new carbon frontier

The University of Lincoln achieved a 63% reduction energy consumption and a 58% reduction in carbon emissions for its College of Art by consolidating down from nine buildings into two and by introducing a space charging scheme based on the energy consumption level and running costs of the space.

The project included closing old inefficient buildings, constructing a new Arts Building with high energy efficiency properties and by the introduction of a space charging scheme, which encouraged the College to consider the energy and carbon impacts of their use of space.

The new space provides an improved student experience in the heart of the University’s Brayford Campus. The project has enabled the staff and students in the College of Art to be co-located in one building.

Top 3 learnings

1 Space charging gets academic departments to consider the running costs of the spaces that they use

2 Space charging produced significant improvements in the space utilisation rate at the University

3 Although the new building had a significantly improved energy performance, users expected a higher performance and more equipment within the new building.

CO2t Savings: 285 tonnes  
Actual/Estimated: Actual
No. of yrs: Annually