Emissions Reduction Campaign
Where are we now?
In September and October 2025, we saved 190 tonnes of carbon emissions due to upgrades and a new, more efficient management of our heating via a new Heating System Operating Plan. This involves a more responsive approach to heating during the cold season.
Significant energy efficiency retrofit projects are underway, including in the SNIAM building where Estates and Facilities are replacing ten Air Handling Units (AHUs), which will achieve carbon savings and also lead to a better more comfortable environment. In addition, they are installing Air Source Heat Pumps for fossil-free heating for the building, adding insulation on the roof and making changes to the labs to reduce the carbon footprint of fume hoods and chemical stores.
Work is also starting on refurbishing units 1, 2, 3 and 8 at Trinity East to upgrade to energy efficient shared laboratories.
What are our targets?
All public sector bodies are mandated to reduce energy-related Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by 51% by 2030. We are aiming for a 10% emission reduction over the next academic year. Many Irish public sector bodies have achieved this level of reduction through similar campaigns.
Following approval of the Energy Policy by the Board, a Heating System Operating Plan has been put into place.
The Heating System Operating Plan relates to Main Campus, St James's Campus and Trinity Halls at Dartry, which together equate to about 53% of Trinity’s total fossil fuel emissions.
In Estates and Facilities, the Tech Services, Energy Team and Helpdesk meet three times per week to triage heating-related work requests, assess the weather forecast and review room bookings shown on CMIS. They then plan how to operate the heating systems for the upcoming week in an adaptive way based on the prevailing weather and in response to logged work requests.
October 2025 Heating System Operation Plan
The heating systems auto weather-compensate so radiators get hotter as the weather gets colder.
Residential buildings:
Morning period of 2.5 hours heating and an evening period of 3 hours heating, 7 days a week, except during Reading Week when an additional lunchtime heating boost of 1.5 hours was provided as students would be spending more time in the residences.
Academic and Admin areas including Libraries:
Early October: two-hour period of morning heating. Following cooler weather and staff feedback, that was gradually extended at end of the month with additional two-hour period of afternoon heating. Weekend heating in place for libraries and buildings with booked events.
Heating savings in October
Savings of 638,000 kWh of natural gas, 130 tonnes of carbon, or 29% compared to Oct 2024. Weather was broadly equivalent to October 2024 so this is seen as a true saving.
- Modifying the heating and ventilation of our buildings from gas boilers to heat pumps
- LED lighting retrofit projects in five buildings, replacing 7,500 light fittings and saving about 150 tonnes of carbon
- Improved efficiency of the ventilation systems in Hamilton and St James’ buildings
- Decarbonisation audits of Arts Building and House 33-37 residences
- Improved control systems for heating and ventilation and continue to record our 40 largest utility meters in real time
- New meters and a new heat retention cover for the swimming pool
- New meters for House 33-37 accommodation, and Dartry accommodation block Houses 80-82 near completion
- Implement a system where personal computer and desk equipment is always turned off when not in use
- Implement a rota where central office equipment such as copiers, scanners, printers are turned off when not in use
- Create a system so that in any central break room or kitchen area, all kitchen appliances including water boilers are turned off when not in use
- Can you share equipment or space with other departments?
- If you have ideas for investment to modernise equipment or the way it is operated, will you share that with us?
Scope1 emission sources (those directly created from sources owned or controlled
by Trinity) were natural gas, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), gasoil, road diesel, petrol, marked diesel, and
refrigerants.
Scope 2 emission sources (those indirectly created from purchased
electricity, heat, cooling or steam consumed by Trinity) included solely purchased
electricity. Electricity generated with solar photovoltaics on the Trinity Business
School and used on-site was assumed to be zero carbon and excluded.
Scope 3 emission sources (those indirectly created by Trinity’s activities but from sources
not owned or controlled by Trinity) included purchased goods and services, capital
goods, water consumption, fuel and energy related activities, waste generated in
operations, business and student academic travel, student and staff commuting,
upstream transportation and distribution, and investments. Investment data was
included in the assessment but excluded from the summary pending further clarity
on the industry sectors.
Over the coming weeks, we will be reaching out through an energy roadshow to gauge what supports and resources we can provide to help with this massive challenge. We are hoping to create a network of Green Teams throughout the University to progress and support the implementation of these actions. If you need additional information, resources or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to sustainability@tcd.ie.
.png)