Towards Net Zero The Bedford College Group is expecting to save over 350 tonnes of Carbon and more than £88,000 annually, following major infrastructure upgrades. The Group used over £2.8m of grant funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), delivered by Salix Finance via the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The grant was used to install a water source heat pump (WSHP), Genius Controls, highly efficient mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, hot waterefficient taps, photovoltaic roof insulation and water heaters. As many of the solutions were centred on the Brundtland Building, on Cauldwell Street campus, energy calculations indicate that this building will receive an A+ on its energy performance certificate making this The Group’s first Net Zero Carbon Building.
Photo (below) shows the Brundtland Building on Cauldwell Street
Pat Jones added: “This year The Group will launch its Social Responsibility Strategy. Staff and students will be invited to participate in the many aspects of this strategy, including the plan to decarbonise our ‘built environment’. This falls in line with the Government’s mission of reaching Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. “The pandemic has crystallised the Net Zero issue for us. Receiving the funding has accelerated our ambition to spread this activity across our other campuses. “We have some incredibly passionate people here, who are looking at this from many aspects. It will be good to see our staff and students helping to shape our strategy.” The Bedford College Group has a history of leading the way in the Further Education sector when it comes to sustainable activities. The shining tall Brundtland Building, in Cauldwell Street was, in 2012, the UK’s first BREEAM “Excellent” award-winning example of “retro” fitting an old education building with modern technology. The environment was an example of sustainable building and energy techniques which were an inspiration to trainees in the construction industry.