Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon
A project supporting Devon enterprises to shift to a low-carbon economy

The Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon project will provide an exciting new catalyst for low-carbon economic growth in Devon.
Supported by an investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the three-year £2.6 million programme, will support Devon-based organisations to access research, business support, and engage with the University of Plymouth around the low-carbon agenda.
Please complete our sustainability survey and tell us what you do and the support you need.
Covid-19 update – we are pleased to confirm that we are now taking bookings for the Sustainability Hub, in line with latest Government guidance and all aspects of the project are progressing. For the most up-to-date information on the University’s COVID measures, please refer to our Covid-19 FAQ page.
The Sustainability Hub is a SKA gold rated refurbished building that provides a physical, collaborative space where businesses, social enterprises and community groups can mix with researchers and students around the issue of sustainability.
For further information on how you can use the building, visit the Sustainability Hub webpage.
The Sustainability Hub is a living lab – a place where we can research and test low carbon solutions. Four industrial research fellows are now in place to carry out research, lead interactive events and bring together enterprises operating in the following areas;
Events – our events support the low-carbon sector in Devon, supporting enterprises from any sector to shift to low carbon and supporting enterprises to engage with the University of Plymouth around the low-carbon agenda.
Green Maker Initiative Event – supporting makers to become more sustainable
Saturday 19 February | 11.00am – 16.00pm | Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey
Net Zero Visions Workshop – a creative low carbon opportunity open to all Devon residents
Thursday 27 January | 6.00pm – 8.00pm | Online
Visit our Events page for all forthcoming events
Future Plymouth 2030 – series of webinars exploring low carbon and sustainable development in Plymouth.
Low Carbon Devon Internship and Leadership Programme – Find out more about our exciting internship opportunities and how to apply – visit Future Shift.
The Low Carbon Devon project has already brought significant energy savings through a LED lighting retrofit programme in three University buildings.
We will also be trialling an innovative energy efficiency test facility or technology. The results of the trial will be disseminated, along with other energy efficiency approaches demonstrated at the University.
To find out more about energy efficiency, please fill out one of the above Expression of Interest questionnaires.Exploring collaborative pathways to achieve low carbon, sustainable development in our city
Interactive and informative carbon footprinting workshops
Meet local carbon consultancies
Our Green Wall Industrial Research Fellow Thomas Murphy is interested in the use of nature-based solutions to tackle local and global environmental issues. The project will optimise the performance and viability of green walls in sustainable building design and share information and best practice. Our thriving internal and external green walls showcase the latest research and technologies in this area.
Thomas says,
“With an expanding urban population, ‘green infrastructure’ provides an opportunity to tackle climate change, air pollution and biodiversity loss, whilst facilitating low carbon economic growth. Green walls can offer heating/cooling savings (CO2), improved air quality, noise reduction and elevated health and well-being. This project is a fantastic opportunity to kick start innovation by local enterprises to engender sustainable low carbon growth in Devon.”
Low Carbon Devon is supporting the creative industries by offering:
We are researching the low carbon practices of creative industries and asking, what are the narratives of low carbon and how can we take action for positive change?
Dr Emma Whittaker, our Industrial Research Fellow, will draw upon the University’s broad spectrum of research expertise to facilitate and advocate the global shift to low carbon within Devon based Creative Industries.
Our Power Electronics Industrial Research Fellow Jonathan Bloor is supporting businesses across Devon to utilise electrical energy in a smarter way through physical or virtual adaptations to existing and new infrastructure.
Jonathan says,
“In a future where our reliance on green electricity will become dominant for all our energy needs, it’s important that efficiencies for power conversion, transmission and usage are optimised. Our current focus on solar micro-inverters, innovative circuit design and big data will enable Devon-based SMEs to make decisions on how to reduce carbon. Our hope is to bring together the local business community – on land and at sea – to implement power efficiency methodologies to help achieve net zero carbon by 2030.”