Students outside Ensuite Accommodation Nelson Court on Campus

Highlights & Achievements

A brief history of UEA's energy related projects that have been delivering carbon reductions for past 25 years.

 

  • 2024 - Energy Centre 2 Boiler Upgrade

    210 tCO2e reduction

    The gas boiler in Energy Centre 2, which supplies heat to our district heat network, was replaced with new condensing boilers.

    The greater efficiency of the new boilers, combined with improvements to controls is expected to provide an emissions saving of up to 210 tonnes CO2e/year.

    EnergyCentre2CondensingBoilers

  • 2023 - LED Lighting

    135 tCO2e reduction

    The university utilised the Salix recycling fund to carry out replacement of all fluorescent lights (T8 size and greater) with LED alternatives.

    The estimated total energy saving is over 500,000 kWh/year, equivalent to a reduction in carbon emissions of 135 tonnes CO2e/year.

    Modern office space with wooden desks, chairs, and dividers. Large windows let in natural light, and the floor is carpeted in gray.

  • 2020 - BMRC Steam Boilers

    85 tCO2e reduction

    Replacement steam boilers were installed in the Bio-Medical Research Centre, improving the efficiency of steam generation - one of the most energy intensive operations on campus.

    The new boilers consumed 28% less gas and resulted in an emissions reduction of 85 tonnes of CO2 per year.

    Steam

  • 2017 - Combined Heat & Power

    4,000 tCO2e reduction

    The CHP engines were replaced with new units capable of producing 4MW of electrical power and meeting approximately 80% of UEA's electricity demand.

    The units are expected to help reduce UEA’s annual carbon emissions by a further 4,000t/year.

    Jenbacher

  • 2015 - District Heating Thermal Store Installation

    Street view containing a works building. A CGI image of two thermal stores is shown behind a building.

  • 2015 - Boiler Replacement

    300 tCO2e reduction

    The 50-year-old boilers used to back up the CHP engines and provide extra mid-winter heat were replaced with three new, efficient natural gas boilers. The improved efficiency delivers a carbon reduction of over 300tCO2e per year.

    CHP-boiler

  • 2006 - District Cooling System

    125 tCO2e reduction

    An absorption chiller was installed to utilise waste heat from the CHP engines for providing cool water to the district cooling network. This replaced electrically-driven compression refrigeration units, reducing electrical demand and associated carbon emissions by approximately 125 tCO2e/year.

    district-cooling-engine

  • 1999 - Combined Heat & Power

    5000 tCO2e reduction

    UEA installed four combined heat and power (CHP) engines, which allow the university to generate the majority of its electricity on-site and use the heat produced in its district heat network. When installed, the CHP reduced our carbon footprint by around 20%, or 5000tCO2e (compared to traditional boilers and grid electricity).

    CHP-2-250.jpg
Projects - Sustainability