Carbon, Energy, and Water

We measure and report on our Electricity, Gas and Fuel consumption annually. Our Carbon Management Plan Statement 2020-2040, sets out a 20 year aim to reduce our Carbon Emissions to net zero by 2040.

Our Carbon Management Strategy supports the Carbon Management Plan and describes the methodologies used to achieve the required emissions reduction targets. The Strategy is in turn supported by the Utilities Measurement, Monitoring and Reporting Procedure and the Energy and Water Management Action Plan.

All of the documents mentioned above are available for download by clicking on the links in the side panel to the right. There are also links to our Water Management Strategy and a document detailing our procedures for handling fluorinated gases.

Carbon Emissions For the year 2021-22

The year 2021-22 was a difficult year for managing energy consumption, given the need to provide additional ventilation in response to Covid 19. This requirement combined with the fact that the winter 2021-22 was the coldest in the last 5 years drove up gas consumption, and the associated carbon emissions. The effect of this is shown in the Carbon Emissions graph below.

The University implemented a series of carbon saving reduction measures during 2021-22, and these will have helped limit the increase in annual carbon emissions seen in the year. Following on from this the University continually reviews how it operates to maintain energy efficiency dependant on operational requirements. Further the University works in Partnership with other organisations to reduce carbon emissions, and is working to increase this type of engagement with a view to keeping the University on track with the targets set out in the Carbon Management Plan.

2021-22 Carbon Emissions
2021-22 Energy Data Breakdown
2023-24 Water Consumption

target and actual carbon emissions

2021-22 Energy Data Breakdown by Consumption

KPI	Units	Residential	Non-residential	Total
Total Electricity	kWh	3,999,689	14,793,304	18,792,993
Total Gas	kWh	15,086,638	23,162,072	38,248,710
Total Fuel Oil	kWh	0	139,014	139,014
Total Fuel	litres			18,825
Total Renewables	kWh			178,093

2021-22 Energy Data Breakdown by Carbon Emissions

KPI	Units	Residential	Non-residential	Total
Total Electricity	TCO₂	805	2,978	3,783
Total Gas	TCO₂	2,758	4,234	6,992
Total Fuel Oil	TCO₂	0	37	37
Total Fuel	TCO₂	0	50	50
Total Renewables	TCO₂	0	0	0
Total Emissions	TCO₂			10,862

	Aug 23	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan 24	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Total
2023-24 Target Consumption (m³)	13216	15049	27271	21427	18017	21577	17954	24962	17517	18232	19866	13983	229072
2023-24 Actual Consumption (m³)	13115	13115											26230

Cumulative 2023-24 Target Consumption (m³)	13216	28266	55537	76964	94982	116558	134512	159475	176992	195224	215089	229072	229072
Cumulative 2023-24 Actual Consumption (m³)	13115	26230
Variation (m³)	-101	-1934
Variation (%)	-0.8%	-6.8%

The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NN, T: +44 (0)1227 764000

Last Updated: 19/09/2023