Higher education energy efficiency fund to get £34m investment boost
Energy efficiency news – by Thomas McMullan
18th June 2014
An energy efficiency fund to help higher education institutions reduce their carbon emissions and energy bills is to receive a £34 million investment boost, creating opportunities for jobs and growth in the green goods and services sector.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Revolving Green Fund (RGF) is to be extended following a positive evaluation of its first three rounds, it was today announced. With the extra capital on the table, higher education institutions will be able to seek funding for both small and large scale carbon cutting and energy saving projects through the fund.
New funding round
New funding round
The announcement is good news for businesses selling energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, as universities and colleges across England will be able to apply for funding of small scale projects between £50,000 and £750,000 and around £2 million for large scale projects. For the first time, these developments include water reduction projects.
“At Plymouth, we are proud of our commitment to sustainability and know our pioneering and innovative approach is welcomed by both staff and students,” said Simon Denham, head of Procurement and Sustainability at Plymouth University.
Exeter University worked with local contractor Morgan Sindall as a result of the second round of funding to retrofit a 1970’s energy guzzling campus building. This project saw the installation of external over-cladding insulation, electricity sub-metering, solar hot-water panels, photovoltaic (PV) panels and lighting sensors.
“Successful delivery of this project has focussed attention on what we will have to do to achieve our 2020 carbon reduction target,” said Andy Coleman, senior building surveyor of the University of Exeter. “It has increased our confidence in tackling projects such as this and has demonstrated to our executive bodies that the required reductions can be achieved.”
Interest-free loans
“The fund is a very good and effective way to help universities improve their sustainability and achieve financial savings,” said Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) “The review has clearly demonstrated the scheme’s value and I’m happy to announce this next round of funding’.
Over the first three rounds of funding, the RGF allocated £61 million to 130 universities, funding 117 small-scale programmes and 17 large projects.
Over the first three rounds of funding, the RGF allocated £61 million to 130 universities, funding 117 small-scale programmes and 17 large projects.
Successful delivery
As part of the previous third round of funding Plymouth University was given £564,940 for installation of a solar thermal system used in combination with a combined heat and power (CHP) plant to produce low carbon domestic hot water.
“At Plymouth, we are proud of our commitment to sustainability and know our pioneering and innovative approach is welcomed by both staff and students,” said Simon Denham, head of Procurement and Sustainability at Plymouth University.
Exeter University worked with local contractor Morgan Sindall as a result of the second round of funding to retrofit a 1970’s energy guzzling campus building. This project saw the installation of external over-cladding insulation, electricity sub-metering, solar hot-water panels, photovoltaic (PV) panels and lighting sensors.
“Successful delivery of this project has focussed attention on what we will have to do to achieve our 2020 carbon reduction target,” said Andy Coleman, senior building surveyor of the University of Exeter. “It has increased our confidence in tackling projects such as this and has demonstrated to our executive bodies that the required reductions can be achieved.”
Interest-free loans
The next round of funding will be in partnership with Salix Finance, which specialises in providing interest-free loans to public sector organisations for energy efficiency.
“Salix Finance is delighted to be co-financing this new offer to universities with HEFCE,” said Annie Shepperd, Salix chief executive. “We know that this will stimulate innovation and leading edge projects in energy efficiency and we look forward to supporting our universities with their projects. Every project will be a contribution to the UK Carbon Plan, reducing our carbon emissions is worthwhile and urgent.”
A review of the previous rounds of funding found that, in addition to facilitating substantial structural changes to higher education institutions, the RGF managed to raise the profile of CO2 reduction with senior management teams in universities.
“Salix Finance is delighted to be co-financing this new offer to universities with HEFCE,” said Annie Shepperd, Salix chief executive. “We know that this will stimulate innovation and leading edge projects in energy efficiency and we look forward to supporting our universities with their projects. Every project will be a contribution to the UK Carbon Plan, reducing our carbon emissions is worthwhile and urgent.”
A review of the previous rounds of funding found that, in addition to facilitating substantial structural changes to higher education institutions, the RGF managed to raise the profile of CO2 reduction with senior management teams in universities.
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