University of St Andrews

University of St Andrews has utilised a total of £4.1m in funding from the Universities Carbon Reduction Fund to introduce a range of low carbon upgrades across its estate. This funding, provided by the Scottish Funding Council and administered by Salix, enables Scotland’s education sector to decrease its contribution to the climate crisis and guide the way toward the nation’s 2045 net zero goal. 

The initial phase of works included an extensive audit during which energy saving measures were identified and prioritised. Following this, plans were devised to target the top 30 energy-consuming buildings resulting in a blended portfolio of over 100 individual energy-saving projects. 

Technologies included smart campus investments to reduce energy demand, targeted energy efficiency upgrades, and the introduction of an innovative, nodal district heating system.

Works include upgrading over 1,500 lighting fittings with LED, resulting in reduced energy costs and improved lighting levels which increase the user comfort for staff and students. Installing a 100 kWp Solar PV to the Sport Centre roof will also reduce energy costs and generate renewable electricity.

Several of the university’s projects focus on decarbonising heating methods, an endeavour central to the net zero goals. Firstly, it sought to enhance its heat distribution systems by upgrading twenty pumps from fixed speed to variable speed and installing valves that enable lower temperature returns. Another project saw the replacement and retrofitting of over 25 fume hoods as the university’s fume cupboards consume high amounts of energy and the introduction of variable speed extract systems and auto-sash closers help to significantly reduce this output.

New smart campus technologies and the optimisation of the existing Building Management System will improve the buildings’ heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. The replacement of over 50 aging fans with modern, high-efficiency EC fans enhanced this work.

The university took it a step further by implementing a new district heating network, complete with combined heat and power systems, which has removed the requirement for boilers in five university buildings in the historic core of St Andrews estate.  This project reduced energy bills, consolidated the existing heating plant, and provided an expandable heating network for future building connections.