Save energy
Find out how you can take simple steps to help reduce our energy use by joining our campaign – Seize the Switch.
Seize the Switch: Save Energy
Saving energy can be an overwhelming topic – with the triple threat of climate change, the cost of living, and risk to energy security.
We have launched the Seize the Switch campaign to help our community reduce our energy use together.
To take part, all you need to do is on our website to do something new that will help you save energy. We will also be sharing one energy saving tip a day for ten days on the to help you form energy saving habits for life.
By taking part, we can all save money and help reduce global warming together.
What you told us
When we asked what matters to you in our recent Energy Insights survey, you told us that saving your money and saving the planet were most important energy saving issues for you. However, you also told us that many of you are feeling worried, anxious and powerless.
So, we want to empower you to be part of the solution to these crises, and to help you save energy through small everyday changes. We hope that the Seize the Switch campaign will help all of us to make real change – both for the planet and for our energy bills.
How to get involved
There are three main ways that you can 'seize the switch' today:
- to reduce your energy use
- sign up to our sustainability mailing list to receive one of our ten energy saving tip each day for ten days.
Our 10 Seize the Switch energy saving tips
Research shows that its easiest to change one thing at a time so we recommend trying one tip a day rather than making all ten changes at once.
- To kick off our campaign on COP27 Energy Day, the University turned down its thermostats by 3°C – joining us to do the same could reduce your gas bill by over 25%.
- Keep your phone charger unplugged at night - It’s a small change but unplugging devices during the night could save the average household up to £80 a year.
- Last to leave a communal space? Be part of the solution and switch off any devices or lights as you go.
- The University has joined the with the UN Environment Programme. We’re committed to being net zero by 2035 – join us by making a personal pledge to tackle climate change together on our .
- Did you know that emails have a carbon footprint? Delete what you don’t need from your storage, including your ‘deleted Items’.
- If you see a window open before you leave a building in the evening, shut it and help us to keep the energy in and the room warm for the morning.
- Thinking of buying a new electronic device or piece of equipment? Choose one with an A+ energy efficiency product rating.
- Try shortening your shower to five minutes. Cutting a minute from your shower saves about 15 litres of water per minute and £21 per year.
- Next time you send a document use an online link rather an email attachment to reduce data storage.
- When you finish your work or studies today, switch off a laptop, computer or other electronic device that you normally leave on.
What we're doing to save energy
As a University, we are committed to reaching net zero by 2035 and are taking steps towards this goal. We have joined the UN Environment Programme’s , to show how serious we are about this commitment.
By taking part in the Seize the Switch campaign you can help us to reach this goal sooner. Other things that the University is doing to reduce our energy use includes:
- our Sustainability Strategy commits us to decarbonising our energy infrastructure and creating an energy efficient campus
- following a recent campus energy audit, steps have been taken this month to turn down our thermostats by 3°C
- in 2020/21, more than a third of the University's energy use came from low carbon sources
- our Sustainable Procurement Principles Framework is intended to drive carbon savings within our supply chain
- we welcomed our first five in 2022, to help drive climate action among our student community
- we’ve also joined the - working with the world’s most esteemed universities to publicise research, improve collaboration, and help global leaders tackle climate change.
More ways to get involved
- Sign up to the .
- Become a Sustainability Strategy Champion.
- Follow the Sustainability team on .
Other resources
- Students Organising for Sustainability campaign