Case Study: Optimising Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at the Church Lane Building

Although the building was designed and developed with energy efficiency in mind, to address these concerns, the University initiated a project aimed at leveraging occupancy data to optimise building operations, reduce energy consumption, and enhance sustainability.

Challenge

The University sought to align building opening and closing times, as well as heating and cooling requirements, with actual occupancy patterns. Previously, ventilation schedules were set based on departmental requests, leading to energy inefficiencies and unnecessary consumption outside actual operational hours.

Solution

Utilising occupancy data, adjustments were made to the ventilation time schedules at Church Lane. Instead of the previous 8am to 10pm schedule, ventilation was optimised to match peak occupancy hours, from 8am to 6pm. This targeted adjustment aimed to reduce energy wastage during off-peak hours while maintaining optimal indoor conditions during periods of higher occupancy.

Results

The impact of the ventilation schedule adjustment on energy savings was significant. 

Electricity consumption decreased by 20 kWh per half-hour over four hours, resulting in a daily saving of 80 kWh. Extrapolating this over a typical academic year (5 days a week for 51 weeks), Church Lane achieved an annual electricity saving of 20,400 kWh, circa £4,500. Additionally, gas consumption showed substantial savings, with a comparison between October 2021 and October 2022 indicating a reduction of 9,756 kWh. Winter gas savings amounted to a minimum of 48,780 kWh per year.

Conclusion

By leveraging occupancy data and implementing targeted adjustments to building operations, Church Lane successfully improved energy efficiency, reduced consumption, and enhanced sustainability, whilst at the same time having no detrimental impact on the user experience. The collaborative efforts between the University and stakeholders underscored the importance of data-driven strategies in addressing energy challenges, cost savings and optimising resource utilisation across campus buildings.

Moving forward, the insights gained from this initiative will inform future energy saving efforts and guide decision-making towards a more energy-efficient and cost conscious campus environment.