A guide to shutdown when the University is closed to help us meet our carbon reduction targets and reduce costs to the university.

Christmas Shutdown Advice

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We are committed to lowering our carbon emissions and the Christmas shutdown period gives us an opportunity to reduce energy waste. By switching off equipment when the University is closed, you can help reduce our environmental impact.

Despite the majority of the University estate being unused over the Christmas period, we still consumed a total of 155,000 kWh of electricity and 143,000 kWh of heat on Christmas Day 2018. To put it into context, this is as much electricity as 40 average UK homes use in a full year!

This Christmas the shutdown period runs from Tuesday 24 December to Wednesday 1 January – with your help we can reduce our energy consumption while the buildings are unused. Before you leave, you can help by:

  • switching off lights and closing windows
  • ensuring as much lab equipment as possible is turned off before you leave – drying cabinets and incubators etc; and
  • checking IT equipment, including screens and projectors.
  • Don’t forget less obvious energy wasters – printers, hot water boilers and microwaves can all be unplugged over Christmas

We understand some equipment is required to maintain safety or is being used for research purposes and therefore needs to remain on. However, any equipment not affected by this, which can be turned off, will help us meet our carbon reduction targets and reduce costs to the University

Thank you for your continued support!