Environmental report: Corona effect on energy consumption at HVO
The climate and environmental report for Volda University College for 2020 is ready. In the "Korona year", it has not surprisingly been a large decrease in emissions due to travelling. Several measures should also see to this number being kept down in the future.
As a certified Eco-Lighthouse, Volda University College (VUC) delivers an annual report documenting environmental work and measurements.
The Working Environment Committee (AMU) was recently presented with figures for 2020, not surprisingly showing a decrease in emissions due to travelling: 73 per cent fewer flights were completed than in 2019. After 12 March 2020, only business-critical travel was approved. The number of car journeys has also decreased.
In total, energy consumption are reduced by 12 per cent from 2019. One factor contributing to this, is also the periods of digital teaching and use of home office due to Covid-19 measures.
Video meetings - also in the future
In the summary of the report, it was pointed how the University College can maintain some of the environmental effects from 2020, also with fewer Covid-19 restrictions:
Fuel consumption per mile will probably decrease in 2021, with one of the older cars being replaced with an electric car. Also, through 2020 more rooms at VUC were upgraded for video conferencing. More will come in 2021, making it easier to choose digital meetings as an alternativ for travelling.
Bicycle hotel coming up
AMU was also presented with several positive figures and more measures for the future: To make bicycling an easier choice for students and employees, the wardrobe, shower, and drying facilities at the Berte Kanutte house have been improved. In the new media house Sivert Aarflot, there will dressing rooms and showers. In addition, two bicycle hotels with the possibility for charging electric bikes are coming up. One will be ready for the semester start in August, the other by Christmas.
• The number of suppliers with a certified environmental management system has increased by 11 per cent
• Energy consumption has been greatly reduced during the last years: From 6 182 254 kWh in 2017 to 3 932 332, 21 kWh in 2020
• Waste sorting stations have been set up in all the large houses, and it is planned for this also in the teaching room.
- AMU takes the report to note, and supports the work of making VUC and Campus more environmentally friendly, was the conclusion after the presentation of the report.