The Carbon Trust's Higher Education Carbon Management Programme has already helped 18 universities save £3 million and 55,000 tonnes carbon dioxide and 16 universities have signed up for Phase 2 running from May 2006 to April 2007. The programme is designed to deliver improved energy management of academic, accommodation and leisure buildings and vehicle fleets. It also provides practical support to HEIs by helping them identify carbon saving opportunities, providing software to analyse energy consumption and delivering workshop support for staff and senior managers to improve their awareness of energy efficiency. Any university that would like to be considered for phase three of the programme should email richard.rugg@thecarbontrust.co.uk.

The Carbon Trust's Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme provides useful guidelines on what should be done. These excerpts from the full checklist summarise the main features of a good energy management programme:

MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY

There is a clearly stated energy policy, which has been promulgated to all employees.

There is a clear organisational structure, with a member of senior management having overall responsibility for the organisation's energy policy.

There are systematic procedures for monitoring and controlling energy consumption, with a planned approach to the improvement of overall energy performance.

There are quality control mechanisms, to ensure that the correct operating procedures of all plant and equipment reduce both the energy cost and environmental impact.

There are / have been awareness programmes for all staff, including new employees, and training programmes for those with energy responsibilities. Assessments for the NVQ in Managing Energy have been considered/carried out.

Energy efficient technology and best practices are incorporated into services, buildings and products, capital purchases and refurbishment programmes.

CO 2 emissions are calculated and publicly reported.

The Institute of Energy's Standards for Managing Energy been used in developing the above

INVESTMENT IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES

There is provision in financial plans and budgets for energy efficiency investments, including allowance for the Climate Change Levy and Emissions Trading.

Capital investments have been made over the last 3 to 5 years, either in plant or equipment specifically for energy measures.

Energy efficiency measures have formed part of investments made for other purposes.

Investment in people has been made either internal of external, to improve management practises, for instance implementing an M&T system, organizing training or Vocational Qualifications.

There are plans for further investment.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS

The organisation has identified and actively uses an appropriate measure of specific energy consumption (SEC) e.g. GJ per m² or unit product.

Account is taken of changes in business size or activity levels.

There is analysis of consumption patterns in the case of larger organisations or more complex processes, to provide adequate detail.

A number of universities and colleges have achieved accreditation:

• Coventry University
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Keele University
• King's College London
• Liverpool John Moores University
• Thames Valley University
• University of Bath
• University of Dundee
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• University of Manchester
• University of Sheffield
• University of Warwick

Other examples of good energy efficiency practices can be found at:

University of Leicester - click here

University of Essex – click here

University of Southampton – click here

University of Edinburgh – click here .

There is also a HEEPI case study on energy metering at UMIST.