Objective 8: Data management and reporting

In order that we can make informed decisions we work hard to have a robust system for data capture and reporting, which we are developing and improving. Our Energy Management System is now accredited to ISO50001 standard. The Sustainability Team measure, monitor and analyse data to identify areas of high usage and leaks to be resolved through future energy projects, to assess the effect of previous projects and estate changes and to report on energy usage to stakeholders within BU. Data sources include monthly invoices and manual reads at the billing meter level and half-hourly data from the automatic meter reading (AMR) system at the campus, building and sub-meter level for electricity, gas, heat and water meters.

Data is reported monthly to the Estates Senior Management Team and at least yearly to the Sustainability Committee. The annual ISO50001 Energy Review assesses the impact of variables on the energy usage, for example changes in estate size or space type or the impact of weather via heating degree days. This review also identifies areas of Significant Energy Use (at the building, user or equipment level), Opportunities for Improvement, sets Energy Targets and Objectives (for example, objective 1 is to reduce consumption, adjusted for campus size (GIA) by 2.5% from the 2018-19 baseline by 2025/26) and to help identify future potential energy projects.

Measuring

Finance data (invoices) Direct (manual) reads Automatic meter reading (half hourly data)

Monitoring

Invoice and manual data validated in sytems link SmartSpaces alarms Weekly check of AMR system

Analysis

Monthly reporting Annual ISO50001 energy review Identification of significant energy users/opportunities for improvement Energy targets and objectives Energy Projects and estate changes Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data

The data for GHG emissions is facilitated and compiled for this report by the Sustainability Team from stakeholders (e.g. waste contractors, fleet vehicle users). Where necessary, emission calculations used the DEFRA Carbon Conversion factors.

Next steps

The university’s next steps in improving data management are to include investigating a software solution to data management and reporting for GHG emissions, to develop and implement robust data capture for procurement, transport, waste and buildings emissions to set baseline and targets and to install further submetering. A project is planned in 2021-2022 to increase submetering at Chapel Gate (one of our sports sites), to help identify future energy and water projects and assess current energy and water use at this site.