Smarter heating measures this winter

The heating is being switched on at the University this week as temperatures begin to drop, with new initiatives being trialled to heat buildings more efficiently this winter.

The University’s energy bill is expected to rise from £5m in 2021/22 to more than £17m in 2023/24 due to record high prices, meaning reducing energy use where possible is essential for our financial sustainability, as well as our ongoing environmental sustainability commitments.

Record temperatures in September and early October have enabled us to delay turning the heating on, helping make some cost savings. A new Smart Heating energy savings programme, developed by our Sustainability team, will now help us to save as much as £1m on energy costs.

The programme is based on suggestions made by colleagues during all-staff talks and feedback via the Our Future First sustainable behaviours programme.

Plans include optimising when buildings are heated while keeping temperatures in line with previous years, as detailed in our updated Heating & Cooling Policy.

Pilot projects start this winter, including:

• Electronic radiator controls to avoid heating empty rooms by better matching heating hours in offices and work spaces to working hours.
• Automatically adjusting when heating is switched on and off according to weather conditions that day, using new technology. This will ensure rooms are warm during occupancy times without wasting heat at the start and end of the day.
• Improving insulation in some of the most poorly insulated buildings on campus. This work will continue over a number of years.

Keeping comfortable safely and efficiently

The Smart Heating programme will mean that temperatures should not fall below heating in previous years. However, colleagues who feel their working areas are too cold should refer initially to the Heating & Cooling Policy  and report issues to Estates Helpdesk, and Campus Operations colleagues will investigate potential heating system faults.

Campus Operations are able to issue a safe and suitable electric heater if an issue is identified, but please do not set up your own portable heaters as this creates fire risk and could cause building heating systems to malfunction.

If you have health issues that are affected by heating, contact Occupational Health to find a solution.

Our energy saving commitments

Heating is one of seven core focus areas where action can be taken in our energy savings programme.

The other areas are lighting, small plug-in equipment such as computers, specialist science equipment, ventilation, space utilisation and night energy use.

If you have an idea for saving energy at the University please get in touch at sustainability@reading.ac.uk.