Energy & Sustainability Programme aims to catch up

The Board of the University (CvB) and the Management Team of the Real Estate Organization are aware that it is a huge challenge to achieve the set goals in terms of energy and sustainability. In order to achieve own ambitious goals in addition to the statutory obligations, they need to catch up by adopting a coordinated approach and policy. Therefore, the Real Estate Organization launched an Energy & Sustainability programme, whereby a special programme team will be given the task and mandate to achieve the targets.

This programme team, that has been in place since March 2024, is working on this assignment using a combined approach and focusing on four themes. In the coming period, we will highlight each theme separately, so you will know exactly what is happening:

1. New build & renovation: future-proof buildings 
2. Maintenance & management: sustainable maintenance
3. Energy generation: ready for 2050
4. Energy management: increasing energy efficiency 

For each theme, a coordinator has been appointed who, together with a number of colleagues, is responsible for the development and implementation of that theme. This involves both the creation of the Development Agenda—all the resources we need to achieve our goals—as well as projects that are already underway. The coordinators are supported by various specialists from support departments. The entire programme team is led by programme manager Harold Hinfelaar, who reports to a steering committee. Harold will also briefly introduce himself later on in this message.

What do we want to achieve?

At the UG, we have set ambitious goals: to be climate neutral as early as 2035, 15 years earlier than the statutory requirement. This means that we intend to completely eliminate our CO2 emissions by then. In order to achieve this, we aim for our operations to consume 48% less energy in 2035 compared with 2019. By then, all the energy required must be generated sustainably, 85% of which must be generated by the ourself.

How are we planning to achieve this?

This will require smart and detailed solutions, even to seemingly simple questions. For instance, by 2035, a 30% CO2 reduction, an annual energy saving of 2%, and 85% renewable energy must be achieved. At the same time, we face the challenge of reducing the high energy costs without interfering with the University’s primary processes.

The Real Estate Organization plays an important role in this process, as it is responsible for the energy supply, technical installations, and structural condition of the buildings, which account for about 50% of the UG’s total energy consumption. The other 50% is accounted for by the equipment used. Until recently, however, there was no approved and tangible plan in place for the future heating and cooling systems and electricity supply. Even though legislation does not require these targets to be met until 2050, we have decided we want to achieve them as early as 2035.

To underpin these goals, we have prepared the Vision & Policy on Energy and Sustainability in recent months. This vision was approved by the Board of the University and discussed with the University Council.

What are the UG’s strategic sustainability goals?

The Green Office has drawn up the Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2026. This roadmap translates the UN Sustainability Goals (SDGs) into 18 specific goals for the UG. Three of these goals fall under the responsibility of the Real Estate Organization:

• Sustainable buildings
• 30% CO2 reduction
• 25% renewable energy
  

These targets are wide-ranging and apply to the entire University. The Real Estate Organization needed to further flesh out these targets and extend them to 2035 and 2050 in order to create a long-term vision. The elaborated, specific targets are set out in the approved Energy Vision and Policy Paper on Energy and Sustainability.

Harold Hinfelaar - programme manager Energy & Sustainability

Harold tells you more about what exactly he does and what you will notice about the measures.

Who are you?

My name is Harold Hinfelaar, 58 years old, and I have been working at the UG since November 2022. I have more than 25 years of experience in property management, project management, and sustainable business operations.

What is your role in the E&D programme?

In my capacity as programme manager, I am responsible for achieving the programme’s objectives. I do this together with the programme team.

How will the energy transition and sustainability improvements affect us at the UG?

Sustainability will not only affect the Real Estate Organization but the UG as a whole. This means that as an organization, we will have to get to work on a broad; in research, teaching, and business operations.

The Energy & Sustainability programme focuses mainly on measures to save energy and make buildings and installations more sustainable. This falls under the responsibility of the Real Estate Organization, but in order to achieve the goals, policy is also needed from faculties, service units, and building users. After all, about 50% of the UG’s energy consumption is not attributable to buildings but to activities, especially at FSE.

Together with faculties, service units, and the Green Office, the programme team is working on plans and actions for this broader part. We also actively seek cooperation with knowledge centres such as the Energy Academy Europe and the Wubbo Ockels School for Energy & Climate.

Energy Management System
Another example of a UG-wide responsibility is having an Energy Management System (EMS). An EMS is a system that monitors and manages the entire energy consumption within an organization. It allows you to set energy-saving targets, develop action plans, and make continuous improvements.

As from 1 July 2023, an EMS is a statutory requirement. This helps the UG to meet energy targets and reduce energy costs. The Board of the University has agreed to develop an EMS, which will be operational by 2026. This system is set up together with faculties and service units and is coordinated by the E&D programme.

What do you enjoy most about your role in E&D?

Achieving results together with the team. I enjoy working together towards our goals. Since we started in March, we have already seen promising results. More and more people within the organization are aware of the programme, also since we work in close cooperation with colleagues from FSE, UB, and the Green Office, for example.

What is your biggest challenge within the programme?

The programme team’s schedule is always full. We are currently focusing on three main issues. The programme has three priorities:

1. Development agenda: We are developing tools such as a KPI matrix for future-proof buildings and a master plan for energy generation.
2. Energy Transition Proposal: In the Energy Transition Proposal, we will develop validated sustainability plans and concrete cost estimates for 74 properties so that they can be submitted to the CvB for decision-making. 
3. Current projects: There are more than 50 projects involving Energy & Sustainability, and in which the programme team is involved.

The challenge is to maintain the focus while working on these three fronts simultaneously. In doing so, it is important that we do not become an ‘island’ in business operations, but work closely together with the existing organization. Our goal is for the UG to be able to continue on this path independently within three years. That is the only way in which we can structurally secure sustainability improvements in our organization.