Queen Margaret's students and staff illuminated by benefits of low carbon initiatives
Queen Margaret University has utilised its £109,600 loan by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and delivered by Salix Finance, to cut energy from inefficient hand dryers and lighting to significantly reduce its environmental impact.
Project Overview
With its sights set on reducing its carbon footprint, Queen Margaret University introduced three projects to its campus: hand dryer replacements, LED lighting upgrades and lighting control modifications. These works address a key area of its efforts to reduce electrical consumption, which is part of its Climate Change Action Plan 2017-2021.
By accessing the Scottish Funding Council’s Universities Carbon Reduction Fund (UCRF), the university could divert money to other urgent maintenance works across campus whilst generating energy and carbon savings.
Salix Finance have produced many technology-specific tools that support clients in calculating energy savings. Through inputting basic equipment and usage information, the hand dryer tool enabled Queen Margaret University to confidently predict its energy savings for this project.
Following this, the 10-year-old light fittings were upgraded to LED. The alterations to the lighting controls allowed for sensor control during the night reducing the lights' operating hours.
The measures were part of the university’s long-term maintenance programme. In each case the design was modified to allow for optimal performance, maximising reduction in energy use resulting in financial and carbon savings.
