By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication

Warm sweaters, ski undergarments and wool blankets have been a permanent fixture in many offices at Aalborg University (AAU) since 1 October. A number of energy-saving measures were implemented, and Campus Service can already see that the measures have an effect.

- The university's staff and students have shown a great willingness to save on both heat and energy. And their contributions have made a difference. A conservative estimate for October and November shows that by working together we have managed to reduce total energy consumption per square metre by 27.4 percent in October and 24.1 percent in November compared to the same months in 2019. 

Savings on heating make up by far the largest share of this, and there is only a modest saving on electricity consumption, says Campus Director Mogens Juul Møller.

Expenses exceed savings

According to the campus director, this is a good start, but we need to pull together to do more:

As previously covered on AAU Update, the rector and pro-rector took the extraordinary step of allocating ten million kroner of the university's equity to avert the consequences of rising energy prices in 2023. The campus director also stated that rising energy prices would not result in a hiring freeze at AAU.

Mogens Juul Møller emphasises that even minor energy savings on electricity consumption thus have a major financial impact on the university's accounts for 2022 and in the coming year. 

- I seriously hope that AAU staff and students will continue to support the energy saving measures by saving on electricity. Turn off your screen and computer instead of leaving it on standby, turn off lamps and take advantage of the daylight, and take the stairs instead of the elevator, says the campus director.

He encourages staff and students to follow the ten saving tips that Campus Service presented on AAU Update earlier this autumn. Read the article here.

The campus director says that Campus Service will talk with the departments about electricity consumption in the energy-intensive processing facilities because they consume really large amounts of power.

- The savings on these facilities would ultimately benefit the departments because the actual costs of energy consumption are regulated as part of the rent scheme, says Mogens Juul Møller.

Departments with energy-intensive processes pay extra

The accounting is structured such that all departments and units initially pay an average internal rent price per square meter including an average expected energy consumption. In the final calculations, the model takes into account the consumption that deviates from normal.

- In other words, the departments and main areas with energy-intensive processing facilities are charged extra, while those who use less energy than average get a discount, he explains.

Therefore, according to the campus director, there are really good financial reasons to save extra on electricity. He encourages the departments to review all laboratory installations, ensure that processing facilities – such as fume cupboards – are used correctly and that energy-intensive processes are reconsidered or minimised. In addition, departments and units can consider sharing freezers, refrigerators and the like.  

Read more articles about the energy savings at AAU: