We are working with Wolfson College to help them decarbonise their estate to achieve net zero quickly and well before their initial target date of 2030. The college currently has a twenty-year carbon footprint of 24,000 tonnes of CO2 across their 15,000m2 GIA buildings.

We initially undertook a study into carbon-saving measures and discussed the range of options and carbon-savings with the college. This resulted in an Energy Audit and Decarbonisation Plan that involves: changing the single glazing to triple glazing; reusing and adapting the existing heating system to work with heat pumps; replacing the roofs and installing maximum insulation; upgrading all lighting to LED; and, installing PVs on the new roofs and installing a 1MWh electrical storage battery.

The college is planning to implement these improvements in phases, with an initial phase of replacing 75% of the windows and switching the heating system from gas boilers to electric heat pumps completing by March 2022. This initial phase will reduce the carbon emissions of its estate by 75%.

Our calculations also established that the replacement of windows, roofs and installation of insulation alone would reduce the buildings’ heat losses by 80%.

In addition, we led the college’s successful application to secure £5M of SALIX Grant funding, which will cover 65% of the first phase works. We are working with the college to help them promote and explain the project to their residents and alumni, to help them secure support for the later phases of the work.

Read more about the SALIX funding process for Wolfson college on our Net Zero Carbon Guide.