As a university, we mainly use our energy for our buildings, laboratories, research and mobility. Operational continuity guaranteed by a reliable energy supply is paramount, allowing the primary processes - education & research - to continue unhindered at all times. Our energy supplier is Engie, we rely on Ennatuurlijk for district heating and get our natural gas from Gazprom.
Trias Energetica
The Trias Energetica is the starting point for all energy consumption at the UT, which involves limiting the demand for energy, using sustainably generated energy and looking at energy consumption throughout the chain (suppliers of the UT).
In order to limit energy demand, we try to identify which systems can be automated, to prevent, for example, heating and cooling systems from being switched on at the same time. On top of that, this approach leads to systems set up in a demand-driven fashion. Hot water used for the heating system, for instance, only enters the building when there is a demand for heating, which prevents the pipes that run all through the building from heating up unnecessarily.
Secondly, we look at the use of sustainably generated energy, such as energy derived from waste streams and energy from renewable sources. Currently, the UT uses district heating to heat most of its building, which uses the residual heat generated by the incineration of waste in the local waste incineration plant. Another example of residual heat is heat recovery, in which exhaust gas is used to pre-heat fresh air introduced into the ventilation system.
Thirdly, we look at measures in the chain. What are UT’s suppliers doing? Do they have a good picture of their consumption & emission? The carbon emissions associated with energy consumption are shown in the carbon footprint (Dutch only).
Energy roadmap towards 2050
The Netherlands is facing a major challenge to substantially reduce the use of primary energy. For this reason, the government has drawn up targets which are set out in a climate agreement. The aim is to reduce CO2 emissions with 49% by 2030 compared to 1990 and 95% by 2050. For the built environment this means a greenhouse gas reduction of 3.4 Mton by 2030 (3.4 billion kilograms of CO2. Other greenhouse gases are converted to their CO2 equivalent). In addition, the goal is to generate all electricity in a CO2 neutral manner by 2050.
Long-term agreement on energy efficiency 2005-2020
The UT has signed the Long-Term Covenant Agreement on Energy Efficiency. The LTA on Energy Efficiency is a voluntary, but not obligation-free agreement between the Dutch government, businesses and institutions to improve the energy efficiency of products, services and processes, whilst reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. The objective is to cut energy consumption by 30% over a period of 15 years (2005-2020), divided into a 20% reduction on campus and 10% reduction in the chain (by partners/suppliers).
ENERGY MONITORING SYSTEM
UT has an energy data platform where you can view and analyse all data.
ENERGY LABELS FOR BUILDINGS
Energy labels are used to indicate the energy performance of a given building. When determining the energy label, potential energy-saving measures are also indicated. The UT is working on obtaining a label for all buildings. Zilverling, Cubicus and Paviljoen are the first buildings to have an energy label.
Energy-saving measures
What can you do?
- Turn off devices and turn off the light when you leave a room, or when you don't need them / aren’t using them
- When purchasing new equipment, pay attention to energy performance.
- Unplug chargers from the wall socket when they are not in use.
- See whether you could turn down the heating a little?
- See what you can do to prevent it from getting too hot or too cold inside. Consider closing doors when the heating is on, for instance, and using blinds to keep out the heat on hot days.
We periodically use the Energy Dashboard on the LED screens across University to raise awareness about the energy consumption.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AT UT?
Have a look at the UT sustainability website where information on sustainability initiatives is continually updated. Or email sustainability@utwente.nl with any questions or suggestions you may have. If you’d like to be kept periodically informed, you can join the UT sustainability community.