How we're reducing water consumption
With changing weather patterns and increasing global demands, water is the next big global environmental threat – with huge societal impacts. Not only that, the South West has one of the highest water charges in the country. We're committed to responsible water management as part of our overall sustainability strategy. And we believe that water conservation is paramount in terms of protecting the environment and reducing costs.
Our first round of water conservation from 1991 to 2004 led to a 45 per cent reduction in water use, delivering a saving of £1.6 million and 300TCO2e. We have half-hourly water meters throughout the campus, which provides intense monitoring and mapping of water consumption. The more intelligent metering gives us a much greater understanding of water use on campus, meaning we can target problem areas. Water is also closely monitored through our profile alerts platform, alerting us when water use changes from expected levels due to a leak, or change in user behaviour or equipment.