Table of Contents
Introduction
Goals and progress to date
Energy Use
Water Use
Waste & Waste minimisation
Transport
Introduction
This report covers the reporting period from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2021. We remain committed to reducing the environmental impacts of our operations and set objectives and goals in order to improve our environmental performance. We review our performance against these objectives and goals. This report sets out initial performance benchmarks and actions underway to monitor and improve the environmental impacts of our operations.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of College campuses in March 2020 and again in January 2021 leading in turn to significant reductions in electrical and gas consumption during these lockdown periods. Provision for vulnerable students continued at our London Road campus These events significantly reduced electrical and, to a lesser extent, gas consumption for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 years.
Goals and progress to date
Since 2018/19 the college has achieved the following improvements:
2019/20: Installation of improved energy-efficient lighting across its London Road campus.
2019/20: Review of baseload electricity consumption which identified significant reductions through optimising use and performance of air ventilation and extraction systems at London Road.
2019/20: Replacement of single-use plastics in all College canteens with compostable alternatives, combined with incentives to use non disposable alternatives.
2019/20: Engagement with Terracycle to redirect writing implement waste to an effective recycling scheme.
2019-20: Active management of build-up of construction and motor vehicle wastes
2020/21: Renewal and upgrading of windows in the Performing Arts block at London Road campus to improve thermal efficiency and comfort of the building.
Upgrading of London Road main building boiler with a more thermally efficient unit.
2020-21: Review and re-procurement of waste disposal routes.
Goals 2021 to 2023
Complete the installation of a 200kwp Solar Array at London Road Campus in 2021.
Develop and start implementation of a long-term strategic plan to enable decarbonisation of building heating systems across all campuses over the life cycle of existing building heating equipment.
Improve thermal efficiency of the London Road main building: Replacement of old and inefficient windows/glazing.
Review needs and develop long term plans for EV charging points at all campuses where appropriate.
Continue staff and student engagement to raise awareness and engagement in sustainability activities and sustainable behaviours.
The impact of the COVID pandemic during 2020 and throughout 2020-2021 had a significant impact on the College. A number of Covid control measures are inherently less sustainable than normal college operational practices; for example increased ventilation will inevitably lead to increased gas and electrical consumption during the winter of 2020-21, while the removal of air hand-dryers has led to the re-introduction of paper towels in college toilet facilities. The removal of shared cutlery and crockery in canteens has increased the use of single-use containers, albeit that these are now compostable and not plastic.
Energy Use
Annual Electricity consumption
The table below set out the past five years of annual electricity consumption. The data is taken from the historic half-hourly meter readings on each of the college’s campus sites.
Electricity Academic Year
Campus
London Road
English Bridge
Welsh Bridge
Total
Total
KWh used
KWh used
KWh used
KWh used
CO2e emissions (t)
15/16
1,594,738
306,514
363,549
2,264,801
1046
16/17
1,558,571
250,178
354,863
2,163,612
891
17/18
1,501,099
295,692
303,782
2,100,574
739
18/19
1,470,657
286,709
287,380
2,044,746
575
19/20
1,055,099
223,931
234,605
1,513,636
387
20/21 1,004,891 236,891 241,483 1,483,264 311 GIA
17924
8236
5204
KWh per m2 used
15/16
89
37
70
16/17
87
30
68
17/18
84
36
58
18/19
82
35
55
19/20
59
27
45
20/21 56 29 46 GIA = Gross Internal Area m2
Electricity consumption is measured on a half-hourly basis. Consumption is people-driven with substantial increases in consumption during hours when staff, students and visitors are present. A significant “base load” remains during periods where people are not present.
Over the past 5 years the College’s consumption has been affected by:
Implementation of improved energy-efficient lighting at the London Road Campus towards the end of calendar year 2019.
Reviewed and identified the sources of, and where practicable took action to reduce, baseload electricity consumption at our London Road site by improving management and monitoring of air extraction and ventilation systems.
From 23 March 2020 until August 2020 all campus buildings which were not required to support provision for vulnerable students were closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and energy use was minimised during this period.
This shutdown was repeated from January to April 2021 as part of the second national lockdown.
Annual Gas Consumption
Gas is used to supply heating and hot water at all three campuses. Gas demand is driven primarily by outside temperatures. The differing thermal efficiencies of the buildings at each campus primarily drive the amount of heating and gas consumption required. The London Road campus has a Building Energy Management system designed to control manage and monitor heating in several buildings. Use of such BEM systems are estimated to reduce overall gas usage. The age and condition of existing heating systems at the English Bridge and Welsh Bridge mean that installation of equivalent systems at these campuses is not currently considered practical. Alternative mechanisms for enabling improved regulation of heating will be kept under review and implemented as practicable.
The table below set out the past four years' annual gas consumption. The data is taken from the historic meter readings on each of the College’s campus sites.
Gas Academic Year
Campus
London Road
English Bridge
Welsh Bridge
Total
Total
KWh used
KWh used
KWh used
KWh used
CO2e emissions (t)
15/16
1,897,040
555,390
549,002
3,001,432
552
16/17
1,868,148
526,039
475,659
2,869,846
528
17/18
2,023,711
602,633
458,134
3,084,478
568
18/19
2,162,152
631,907
445,588
3,239,647
596
19/20
1,990,690
568,203
414,003
2,972,896
547
20/21 2,550,008 626,716 462,501 3,639,225 669 GIA
17924
8236
5204
KWh per m2 used
15/16
106
67
105
16/17
104
64
91
17/18
113
73
88
18/19
121
77
86
19/20
125
80
78
20/21 142 76 89 From 22 March 2020 until August 2020 campus buildings which were not required to support provision for vulnerable students were closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and energy use minimised during this period. The impact of this is lower than for electricity as use of gas-based heating systems are normally reduced or able to be switched off from mid-April through the summer months.
During the academic year 20/21 (1 August 2020 – 31 July 2021) additional heating was in place to maintain thermal comfort for students despite the need for increased ventilation as a result of the pandemic.
Water Use
Water is a precious resource and clean, drinking water is both energy and chemical-intensive in its production and supply. Water use is primarily people related with most water being used in toilet and cooking facilities. At the London Road campus, water is also consumed by the Sports Centre changing facilities and other curriculum areas such as sports, hair and beauty and brickwork. At the English and Welsh Bridge campuses water is only used primarily for toilet and cooking facilities.
The table below set out the past six year’s annual water consumption. The data is taken from the historic readings on each of the College’s campus sites.
Water
Campus
London Road
English Bridge
Welsh Bridge
Total
Total
Academic Year
M3 used
M3 used
M3 used
M3 used
CO2e emissions (t)
15/16
4,664
2,724
-
7,388*
2.54*
16/17
6,803
2,809
-
9,612*
3.31*
17/18
5,585
2,340
1138
9,063
3.12
18/19
5,761
2,410
1067
9,238
3.18
19/20
4,379
2,050
691
7,120
2.45
20/21 9,125 1,774 559 10,493 1.74 * - Welsh Bridge meter readings data for 15/16 and 16/17 is not reliable or consistent and have been excluded.
** - London Road consumption for 20/21 is inflated by a major pipe leak that occurred underneath a building and so did not become immediately apparent.
Waste & Waste Minimisation
The College recognises the importance of the UK Government’s waste hierarchy, namely ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle’. The College is committed to disposing of materials in an environmentally sensitive manner and encouraging the reuse and recycling of waste materials where possible. However, the minimisation of wastes produced is the first priority.
Since 1 April 2021 all of the College’s waste is disposed of by Veolia, who have recently invested in a new disposal facilitiy in Shrewsbury, with the additional benefit of reducing transport mileage to and from the college and the disposal site.
Veolia transports solid waste to specialized sorting centres. Waste resulting from the selective collection of commercial waste and non-hazardous industrial and commercial waste is sent to high-performance sorting centres managed by Veolia. Specialised processes, such as auto-adaptive sequential sorting (TS2A), are used to achieve recovery rates of up to 95%. The recovered waste then becomes secondary raw materials for industry. Veolia also separates and recycles complex waste, such as batteries and electronic cards.
Non-recyclable non-hazardous waste is estimated to be 60% of the waste stream is transported to incineration plants or landfills. The incineration process produces energy in the form of steam which is converted into electricity and fed into the national grid distribution network. Veolia also captures gas generated by the fermentation of organic waste in its landfills. This biogas is then be directly delivered to a distribution network, used to produce electricity through turbines or engines, or used as fuel for vehicles.
Specialist wastes (e.g. building waste, metals etc.) are stored and disposed of separately through appropriate routes. e.g. Metal waste is sold to scrap metal merchants for re-use. Waste streams from London Road Campus are measured and reported by Cartwrights. The table below shows the total waste by type for London Road.
During 2020-21 London Road campus waste streams were as follows
Material
Proportion
Sum of Weight: Tonnes
Commercial
35.3%
42.9
General Construction Waste
39.9%
48.5
Paper & Cardboard
6.6%
8.0
Food Waste
4.3%
5.3
General Waste
7.3%
8.8
Plasterboard
6.3%
7.6
Glass
<0.3%
0.3
Paint & adhesives
0%
0.0
Grand Total
100.00%
121.4
Waste streams from English Bridge campus are measured and reported by Veolia. The table below shows the total waste by type for English Bridge. area.
Material
Proportion
Sum of Weight: Tonnes
General Waste
77.2%
10.2
General Construction Waste
22.8%
3.0
Grand Total
100.00%
18.0
Waste streams from Welsh Bridge Campus are measured and reported by Veolia. The table below shows the total waste by type for Welsh Bridge.
Material
Proportion
Sum of Weight: Tonnes
General Waste
63.1%
5.1
Mixed Recycling
36.9%
3.0
Grand Total
100.00%
8.1
Transport
In 2020-21 staff travelled 8,344 miles on college business and College minibuses and other vehicles travelled 27,562miles. This equates to the following CO2 emissions.
CO2e emissions (t)
Business travel in employee-owned vehicles
2.67
Owned transport
7.97
Streamlined energy and carbon reporting for college corporations
The following table summarises the college’s annual UK energy use (in KWh) relating to gas, purchased electricity and transport fuel and the associated greenhouse gas emissions (in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e))Greenhouse gas emissions and energy use data for the period 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2021 – UK
2020/21
Energy consumption used to calculate emissions (kWh)
5,147,870
Energy consumption break down (kWh) (optional):
Gas
3,639,225
Electricity
1,483,264
Transport fuel
25,381
Scope 1 emissions in metric tonnes CO2e
Gas consumption
608
Owned transport
8
Total scope 1
616
Scope 2 emissions in metric tonnes CO2e
Purchased electricity
311
Scope 3 emissions in metric tonnes CO2e
Business travel in employee-owned vehicles
2.7
Total gross emissions in metric tonnes CO2e
929
Intensity ratio
Tonnes CO2e per member of staff
1.62
We have followed the 2019 HM Government Environmental Reporting Guidelines. We have also used the GHG Reporting Protocol – Corporate Standard and have used the 2020 UK Government’s Conversion Factors for Company Reporting.
We have followed the 2020 HM Government Environmental Reporting Guidelines. We have also used the GHG Reporting Protocol – Corporate Standard and have used the 2021 UK Government’s Conversion Factors for Company Reporting.
Intensity measurement
The chosen intensity measurement ratio is total gross emissions in metric tonnes CO2e per staff member, the recommended ratio for the sector.
Measures taken to improve energy efficiency during the year have been set out in section 2 above.