Top five global university moves closer to net zero: Gonville and Caius College
We visited a historic college that has produced 15 Nobel Prize winners to discuss its vision for a sustainable future.
Located in the east of England, Cambridge is a renowned university town and home to the world-famous University of Cambridge. Founded in 1209, today this historic university comprises 31 colleges, each working towards their own net zero targets.
Our team was on the ground in Cambridge to visit three of the colleges – Gonville and Caius, St Catharine’s and Peterhouse. They are paving the way toward a more sustainable future thanks to projects enabled through government funding.
Zoe Naylor, our client support officer, who has been working with the university, said: “It was fantastic to visit the sites and to see how these three colleges are progressing against their net zero aims.
“Each college estate requires a unique and tailored approach when it comes to decarbonisation. It was great to meet with the passionate people driving these trailblazing schemes.”
We were on site to meet with college representatives, see project progress and discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by each organisation on the journey to net zero.
Each college estate requires a unique and tailored approach when it comes to decarbonisation. It was great to meet with the passionate people driving these trailblazing schemes.
Gonville and Caius College, ‘Keys’
Gonville and Caius College is the fourth oldest University of Cambridge college. First founded in 1348, the college is working towards a net zero deadline of 2048 with an ambition to exceed this target if possible.
Home to nearly 1,000 undergraduates, postgraduates and academics, the college is now one of the largest colleges in Cambridge. Proud of their academic achievements, it has produced 15 Nobel Prize winners from the co-discoverer of penicillin Sir Howard Florey to comedian Jimmy Carr.
We met with college estates manager Andrew Gair and Ridge and Partners engineer Trevor Bishop to discuss one of the college’s latest sustainability projects. Proposed works are centred at the Old Courts, a Grade I listed building that was the historic and traditional site of the college. To support the works, the project has been awarded funding through Phase 3c of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. We deliver funding for this scheme on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The works will involve the removal of the old gas boilers which will be replaced by a low-carbon alternative. Glazing upgrades are also expected to mitigate the heat loss that surveys highlighted as areas of risk.
Originally proposed as a ground source heat pump project, a swap to air source heat pumps has been proposed. The opportunity to move to the different type of pumps was identified when project experts realised that these could be installed on the roof of a nearby building.
This represents a better use of the available space especially because of the city centre location.
Experts have indicated that the project is possibly the most significant and sizable scheme to be commenced across all Cambridge colleges. Informed by three years of research and investigation, if the change to air source technology is approved, the updated project would involve closure of Trinity Street for up to five weeks to enable pipework upgrades. Market Square would also be used as the base from which a crane would lift the air source heat pumps atop the historic roof.
Zoe added: “It is clear the college is keen to implement an approach that ensures maximum benefit and best carbon savings across its estate and we are continuing to work closely with them on this request.”
Plans are already in place at the college for which buildings and systems it will look to upgrade next as it continues to prioritise momentum towards its net zero ambitions.
Keep an eye on the news area of our website as we share updates on the works at St Catharine’s and Peterhouse colleges across the next few weeks. Stories will celebrate project progression at these two prestigious University of Cambridge colleges.
