As a large organisation, UQ is a major energy consumer. With more than 700 buildings, 25,000 computers and 60,000 students and staff, electricity consumption accounts for more than 90 per cent of our carbon emissions.
UQ's extensive energy efficiency program is focused reducing carbon emissions by:
- reducing energy consumption
- improving efficient use of energy
- extensive and comprehensive metering with detailed, robust, live energy data
- detailed energy utilitsation reporting through the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) and the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS)
- targeted energy reduction initiatives
UQ is committed to reducing its energy consumption through a number of ongoing projects and initiatives, including our solar-powered electric vehicle fast-charging stations, our lighting retrofit program, our Energy Efficiency Project Fund and more.
UQ installed the state's largest behind-the-meter battery in late 2019 and is the first university in Australia to participate directly in the wholesale energy spot market. Read more about The business case for behind-the-meter energy storage and the Q1 performance of UQ's 1.1MW Tesla battery.
Savings from the reduced power bills these projects help us achieve facilitate valuable ongoing research, allowing us to continue finding new and innovative ways to reduce our energy consumption and carbon emissions.