These FAQs are here to help you find the information you need, when you need it, but you can always contact AskBU if you’d like to talk to someone in person, by phone or email, or if you have feedback about the FAQs.
What is BU doing to save energy on campus?
BU has a 40% carbon reduction target by 2020 from 2005/6 baselines. Details for strategies on achieving this are detailed in our Sustainability Policy.
One of the key ways BU is achieving this is via sustainable buildings. Both recent new builds at BU have achieved BREEAM Excellent. Some of the ways this was achieved include:
The Fusion Building (opened 2016):
• Ground source heat pumps to cool the building in the summer and heat it in the winter
• Combined heat and power, which decreases the amount of energy needed for heating and providing electricity to the building
• Solar photovoltaic panels on the roof
• Triple glazing
• LED lighting
• Sensors to turn off the audio visual systems when not in use.
The Student Centre (opened 2015):
• Ground source heat pumps
• Solar photovoltaic panels.
Another key energy reduction feature is the biomass heating system in Poole House which burns sustainably sourced local wood chips to power the central heating system.
To see how you can help with lowering carbon emissions, please look out for information from SUBU on the Student Switch Off.