Save energy

Find out how you can take simple steps to help reduce our energy use.

Image of Falmer House courtyard at night with building lit up and students walking beneath

Energy-saving actions, big or small, help drive our progress toward a more sustainable campus and a healthier planet. Whether you’re a student, staff member, or visitor, we all have a role to play in reducing energy use across campus. 

At Sussex, energy consumption from buildings, equipment, and everyday activities accounts for a significant portion of our environmental footprint. By using less energy, we can: 

  • reduce carbon emissions 
  • lower operational costs 
  • help combat the climate crisis 
  • support the University’s net zero goals.

Our Sustainability Strategy commits us to decarbonising our energy infrastructure and creating an energy-efficient campus, including through a dedicated section focused on reaching Net Zero. Our Carbon Management Plan explores this in more detail and will be updated with the next carbon footprint publication. 

We’re committed to reducing our energy consumption and improving sustainability across campus. From improving infrastructure to encouraging small everyday actions, we’re taking a joined-up approach to using less energy and you can play a part. 

  • What we're doing to save energy

    We’re making long-term changes to reduce energy consumption and improve sustainability across campus. Recent and ongoing actions include: 

    • We’re upgrading how we manage energy use across our buildings—improving controls for heating, lighting, and more. This gives us better oversight and reduces unnecessary energy consumption. 
    • We're making our buildings more energy efficient. In 2024, we installed new double-glazed and solar-glazed windows in Essex House, helping to keep the building warm in winter and cool in summer. 
    • We’re improving our digital and network infrastructure to cut down on background energy use and ensure our systems are running efficiently. 
    • We’re collaborating with Sussex Energy and the Greater Brighton Partnership to explore local, sustainable energy solutions together. 

    Keep track of the University’s sustainability performance using our Performance Dashboard. 

  • Steps you can take to save energy

    Shaped by ideas from our University community, these actions help reduce energy use across campus and at home. 

    • Use heating only when it’s truly needed. On cooler days in spring, summer, and autumn, try layering up instead of turning the heating on. 
    • Keep temperatures between 19°C and 21°C. If you have control over your boiler or radiator, avoid setting thermostats higher than 21°C in winter. 
    • Avoid opening windows when the heating or air conditioning is on. If it’s too warm, try turning the radiator down first and make sure the air conditioning is turned off. 
    • Switch off appliances and lights at the end of the day and when not in use. This includes communal areas, if you’re the last to leave, turn everything off. 
    • Be mindful of your digital footprint. Emails and data storage have a carbon cost - regularly clear out unnecessary files, including from your ‘Deleted Items’ folder. 
    • Close windows before leaving a building. This helps retain heat overnight and reduces the energy needed to warm rooms in the morning. 
    • Take shorter showers. Reducing your shower time by one minute can save around 15 litres of water and up to £21 per year. 
    • Send links instead of attachments. Sharing documents via links rather than email attachments helps reduce server energy use. 

More ways to get involved

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