Between October 2022 and April 2023, the University must submit a report every month on the amount of electricity purchased in kWh over the preceding month and the measures taken to save electricity. The Swedish Energy Agency must report this to the Government Offices by 31 May 2023. The final report must include an account of how much each authority has reduced their electricity usage during the implementation of the assignment.
The Government considers it a matter of urgency that all public authorities take the necessary steps to reduce the government administration’s electricity usage in the short term.
LU Estates will provide support in this internally, and they will contact each faculty/equivalent before the submission of each report to the Swedish Energy Agency.
Each organisation within the university must examine their energy consumption and identify possible measures with regard to their own circumstances. LU Estates is currently engaging in dialogue with our landlords to provide statistical data and see what other support they can offer ahead of the implementation of the assignment.
Possible measures for saving energy could include:
- reducing the hours when buildings are lit
- reducing the operating hours of ventilation systems, and lowering flows
- lowering the temperature indoors
- shifting the use of electricity to times when society’s need for electricity is at its lowest.
All possible measures are of course to be analysed from a work environment perspective, to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the work environment.
Electricity prices this winter are expected to reach their highest level in Sweden for several decades. Around Europe, gas and electricity prices are rising, which is hitting stakeholders in society hard. Ahead of the approaching winter, it is of crucial importance to reduce the use of all forms of energy. All countries must contribute to a reduction.
Quick tips for everyone
We can all contribute to reducing our electricity usage during the winter ahead. You as an employee can start saving straight away, by reducing unnecessary electricity use. Tips on energy-saving habits that work for everyone:
- Switch off lights in rooms you are not in, and only switch on the lighting you need.
- Avoid standby – switch off things like computers completely when you are not using them. Connect your devices to a multi-way extension lead with an on/off switch, or simply pull out the plug. And remove chargers when they are not in use.
- Air rooms sensibly – if you need to let in fresh air, open windows wide for a short time instead of airing a little over a longer period. Airing rooms with managed ventilation reduces the efficiency of those systems.
- It is also important that heat from radiators and air from vents can circulate as intended to maintain the correct temperature within the room. That is why furniture, curtains, paper and other objects should not be placed in front of radiators, vents or on window sills with ventilation grilles.
- For those who work in lab environments – remember to close the fume hood!