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Green Results and Indicators
In order to gauge our progress toward sustainability, we must establish a clear picture of the present environmental and climate impact of the University of Copenhagen. We must identify where we are successful and where challenges are still presenting themselves. A clear picture of consumption and impact creates the foundation for adequate comparison with other universities- both nationally and internationally – for example within the IARU context. As a part of the University of Copenhagen’s sustainability effort, green accounts will be continuously developed with improved quality of data and new estimations. This will involve working with indicators which reflect different aspects of sustainability.
The first green account of the University of Copenhagen published was covering 2006. The most recent green acconts covers 2008.
Key findings
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The most substantial environmental impact of the University of Copenhagen is energy consumption
On the estimated one million square meters of the University of Copenhagen more than 40,000 employees and students conduct their teaching, research and experiments. This causes considerable energy consumption- in the forms of electricity, heat-supply and modes of transportation.
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Electricity consumption is bar far the University of Copenhagen’s largest source of CO2 emissions
Among the University of Copenhagen's CO2 emissions from direct energy consumption, electricity (57%) and district heating (23%) make up the largest sources, while transporation contributes with smaller part (17%). The CO2 contribution of transportation is largely due to offical internationalair-plane travel.
In 2008, the University of Copenhagen emitted 65.362 tons of CO2, equivalent to the average annual CO2 emission of about 6500 Danish citizens or 65000 citizens in Africa.
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Hothouses, laboratories and experiments equal large energy consumption
There are big differences in the energy consumption of the eight faculties at the University of Copenhagen. This is particulary due to the fact that hothouses and laboratories are far more energy intensive than the buildings which mainly house offices. As a rule of thumb, "wet" faculties (health and natural science faculities) use on average five times as much energy as the "dry" faculties (humanistic science faculties)
The University of Copenhagen has more laboratories than any other Danish University, which increases its energy consumption (including both electricity and heat) to be 30 % higher than the average for Danish universities.
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Internationally, the University of Copenhagen has a low energy consumption level
The University of Copenhagen has a close partnership with nine other international top universities called the IARU-alliance. The first comparisons between IARU universities show that the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of the University of Copenhagen are in the lower end of the spectrum. One of the most essential reasons for this is the general high energy efficiency of Denmark, which is largely achieved through the centralized co-production of electricity and heat, ultimately reduces CO2 emissions.
The IARU- Universities will in the course of the following years further develop and strengthen key numbers, and exchange experiences and inspiration concerning the development of sustainable universities.
Summary of the University of Copenhagen's green accounts 2008
Find a more elaborated summary of the University of Copenhagen's green accounts for 2008 here.
