Energy savings

What is Ghent University doing?

Heating and hot water

• The central heating systems are set to a lower temperature, with the aim of achieving an indoor temperature of 21°C.
• It is not permitted to bring your own heating appliances to your workplace. In addition to the additional electricity consumption, there are real risks of fire, short circuits, etc.
• The heating is set to night mode (lower temperature) at 4 p.m. in buildings (or parts of buildings) that are mainly offices. The buildings will then remain warm enough for some time.
• The heating is set to night mode (lower temperature) between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. in buildings (or parts of buildings) with many classrooms.
• For the sake of good building management and security, the reservation of rooms after 7 p.m. is limited to well-insulated buildings. This also prevents certain buildings from being heated, cooled or ventilated for a single evening activity.
• During holiday periods, as few buildings as possible are heated. Between Christmas and New Year, the heating will switch to night mode (with the exception of a few buildings, as in previous years). A number of buildings will also remain in night mode during the second week of the Christmas holidays. If this applies to your building, you will be informed by your dean's office/management.

Electricity

• Air conditioning is only used for scientific purposes. When activated, the cooling is set to a minimum of 27°C.
• Where possible, lighting on campuses and car parks is switched off between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Ambient lighting of monuments is switched off between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Lighting on exterior walls is switched off as much as possible.

Do you see any other opportunities for savings, such as unnecessary heating that you cannot adjust yourself or a laboratory device that would be better switched off automatically?

Please send us your suggestions or comments

What can you do yourself?

In classrooms and meeting rooms

• Keep the windows closed in mechanically ventilated rooms. You can recognise these by the ventilation grilles and the instruction sheet at the entrance.
• Ventilate rooms that are not mechanically ventilated briefly and thoroughly.
• Close all windows when leaving rooms.
• Turn off the lights after each lesson and when there is sufficient daylight.
• Switch off projectors, video equipment, computers, etc. completely after each lesson.
• Report to energie@ugent.be if it is too cold or too warm in your classroom.

At your workplace

• Use the thermostatic tap wisely: setting 3 is sufficient. If you ventilate the room and open the windows, turn off the radiator taps.
• Close windows and doors during cold periods.
• Turn off lights when you leave a room.
• Share the dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee machine, photocopier and scanner, etc.
• Report it when radiators in corridors are set too high.
• Unplug unused boilers (kitchenette) or set them to eco mode.
• Use awareness-raising material.
• Become an energy ambassador and ensure that energy is used sensibly in your workplace. Report situations of energy waste and suggestions via energie@ugent.be and encourage your colleagues to act in an energy-efficient manner.
• Report to energie@ugent.be if it is too cold (below 21°C during working hours) or too warm in your classroom.

In laboratories

• Avoid wasting energy when using fume cupboards.
• For fume cupboards with a constant flow rate:
• Closing the sliding window has no effect. Therefore, switch off the fume cupboard completely after use (if possible via the on/off button).
• For fume cupboards with a variable flow rate:
• Closing the sliding window does have an effect. Keep the sliding window closed as much as possible.
• Switch off the fume cupboard completely after use (if possible via the on/off button).
• Only use the maximum setting if really necessary.
• Close fume cupboards after use.
• Switch off equipment after use.
• Set your ultra-freezer to -70°C instead of -80°C. Follow the guidelines when using an ultra-freezer.
• Report defects or (expected) excessive consumption to energie@ugent.be.
• Use awareness-raising material.
• Become an energy ambassador and ensure the sensible use of energy in your workplace. Report situations of energy waste and suggestions via energie@ugent.be .

In student residences

• Use the thermostatic tap wisely: setting 3 is sufficient. When you ventilate the room and open the windows, turn off the radiator taps.
• Close windows and doors during cold periods.
• Turn off lights when you are not present.
• Use awareness-raising material.
• Become an energy ambassador and ensure the sensible use of energy in your workplace, report situations of energy waste and make suggestions via energie@ugent.be .

Energy policy of Ghent University

Ghent University wants to reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption and build and renovate fossil-free. This means working on greater space and energy efficiency and switching to green energy.

Curious about the results we are achieving and the measures planned for the coming years? Read about it on our website.