Universities ‘could save £2.2bn on energy bills by 2035’
UK universities could reduce energy bills by £146m a year if they upgrade outdated energy systems, according to new research released by Centrica Business Solutions. The saving, which amounts to £2.19bn over a typical 15-year energy contract, is identified in a new study that aims to assess the economic opportunity of public sector organisations adopting green technology. The Powering Britain’s Public Sector report found that if just half of the UK’s 106 universities updated their energy systems – by deploying technology like combined heat and power units, battery storage and solar panels – it would reduce annual energy costs by more than a third (36%), enough to pay the salaries of more than 3,700 lecturers. The adoption of new energy technology would also deliver an annual emissions saving of 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, around eight per cent of the sector’s current carbon footprint and the equivalent of taking 105,000 cars off the road. The carbon reduction savings could be doubled with the injection of around 20% green gas – a type of gas created from biodegradable material – into the fuel mix. The new report examines the impact that the adoption of distributed energy technology would have on the university, healthcare and defence sectors. Distributed energy solutions are designed to help organisations take control of their energy, so that it’s produced and managed at the point of use, often independent of the grid. Combined, the three public sector estates are responsible for more than 7.8m tonnes of carbon emissions each year and have been challenged by the Government to reduce emissions by 30% by 2020/21, and hit net zero by 2050. Alan Barlow, Director of UK and Ireland for Centrica Business Solutions, said: “Powering Britain’s universities costs in the region of £400m every year. Such public expenditure has come into sharp focus over the last decade, alongside ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint. “Those institutions that seize the initiative and adopt new energy technology will not only create savings on their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions but will also establish a competitive edge over those who don’t.” Centrica aims to deliver £300m in energy efficiency savings for the public sector and essential services globally by 2030, as part of its responsible business ambitions. To help the public sector implement the necessary energy technology changes, Centrica has made a series of recommendations to government, including the simplification of procurement frameworks and a stable and long-term regulatory environment. Case study: The University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham campus is used by more than 30,000 staff and students and is, by nature, energy intensive. To help reduce its energy bills, improve resilience and bring down carbon emissions, a 4.4 MW combined heat and power unit (CHP) was installed to generate energy and heat directly on campus. A further five CHPs were fitted shortly after. CHP technology works by converting gas into both electricity and heat in a single process. It’s one of the most efficient sources of energy production and allows an organisation to produce a significant amount of its energy on-site – improving the resilience of supply and reducing costs. Since the adoption of the CHPs, the university has saved £1.8m on its energy bills and generated 10 million kWH of energy on-site. Since 2016, the university has also been participating in the Capacity Market, which allows it to sell any excess energy generated on-site back to the grid, creating a new income stream for the organisation. To read the Powering Britain’s Public Sector report in full, click here centrica.com
Protecting Universities from Cyber Attacks
Cyber security is rated as one of the top concerns for organisations worldwide. As a global leader in the security technology industry, Gallagher is working with Universities all over the world to help them mitigate risk and secure their systems against potential attacks. In looking at the cyber risks that relate to Universities, there are three main areas of concern: protecting Intellectual Property (IP), protecting personal data, and protecting facilities and infrastructure. “A vulnerability in any of these areas is serious business for our University customers” says Richard Huison, Gallagher Regional Manager for UK & Europe. “A cyber attack that steals IP, particularly with regards to unproven and unpublished research, could have significant impact on a University’s bottom-line by preventing them from commercialising their findings later down the track” says Huison. Similarly, IP relating to teaching material and course work must also be protected against cyber-attacks. The introduction of online teaching means that students are no longer required on campus to learn, and material is therefore accessible by more people in more places than ever before. In order to continue to deliver their core service and maintain competitive edge, it’s important for Universities to protect their academic IP with strong cyber security measures. Universities hold massive amounts of personal data on current and past students and staff. That data encompasses a lot of personal information, including residential addresses, next of kin information, performance results/grades, and – in the case of students living on campus – medical notes which could involve details such as a mental healthcare plan. “A huge concern for Universities is the risk of personal data being accessed by unauthorised parties” says Huison. “It’s vital that staff and students feel their privacy is being managed and protected by their chosen University. We work very closely with our customers to ensure they understand and maintain the most-up-to-date technology and, therefore, have the greatest cyber resilience possible”. Gallagher’s intelligent data management uses industry-leading standards for data protection. End-to-end encryption with secure, encrypted SQL databases and end-to-end authentication are all part of the Gallagher solution. They provide system hardening and configuration advice, and their network of fully trained and certified installers ensure your system is as cyber-secure as possible on installation. In a world where cyber threats evolve daily, so too must our defences. If you would like to talk about your cyber security concerns call us on 02476 641234 or visit security.gallagher.com to find out more.
Keep calm and seek advice says leading college
With just a week to go before thousands of students across Staffordshire receive their A-level results, Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC), the highest performing further education institution in the region, is reassuring students that whatever their results, there are options and support available. Liz Wyman, Head of Learning Resources and Guidance at Newcastle-under-Lyme College said: “Understandably, students can get nervous in the run up to results day, even though the vast majority get into university, an apprenticeship or employment without a hitch. These results are the culmination of two years hard work and there is often a lot riding on the outcome. We would urge students to stay calm and seek advice if things don’t go to plan.” “As a caring college, we want to ensure that students have the best support available, whether they have out-performed expectations, undershot or are simply having doubts about the choices they have made. It is important that students, including those from other colleges, are reassured that whatever their results, there will be options available.” On Thursday 18th August, NULC will open its doors to students collecting results and will have knowledgeable staff on hand throughout the day to give advice and guidance. NULC’s support team will be joined by advisors from local universities and Entrust, who will be available to provide independent career advice. In 2015 NULC celebrated record results, with an overall A-level pass rate of 99.2%. 173 students achieved A* or A grades and 31 subjects achieved a 100% pass rate. For several consecutive years NULC has been the biggest provider of students to higher education in Staffordshire, with 860 students progressing to 91 different universities last year. For those students choosing to stay closer to home, NULC offers progression opportunities through a range of university-level programmes including Foundation Years, Foundation degrees, Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Diplomas (HNDs). These courses are a perfect option for those wanting to study in a dedicated University Centre within a smaller institution that boasts first class facilities and fantastic student support. It is not too late to apply for courses starting in September; there are a range of course options available, including HNC/Ds in Business, Sport, Performing Arts, and Health and Social Care. NULC also promotes a broad apprenticeship offering with equally strong success rates, standing 11% ahead of the national average. Currently there are around 70 local apprenticeship vacancies available through ‘The Workshop’, a dedicated apprenticeship hub, housed within the main reception area at the College’s Knutton Lane campus. Giovanni Neglia, 19 from Burslem took AS levels, however, instead of going to university, he chose to step directly on the career ladder, undertaking a higher apprenticeship in business administration with Hanley Economic Building Society. He said: “University is not the only option, being an apprentice means that I’m not building debts, I’m getting my qualifications paid for and I am progressing towards university-level qualifications whilst earning and gaining experience.” Principal and Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme College, Karen Dobson said: “This is an exciting time of year as students across the country receive their all-important exam results. For many, a university place will be calling, but for an increasing number of young people apprenticeships are becoming an attractive choice. An apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to gain practical skills and knowledge in your chosen field, with the ability to study to degree-level, whilst earning a wage.” To find out more about apprenticeships at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk/apprenticeships or contact the Work Shop on 01782 254287 or theworkshop@nulc.ac.uk