Wolfson College Record 2021

introduction
Photo: Vortex Drone
Over the last ten years we have done as much as we could to reduce the
emissions we release into the atmosphere. Any new build was done to the best
standards. Solar cells were installed on the roof of the main building, and green
gardens on the roof of the new Academic Wing. We preserve our biodiversity,
particularly the site of special scientific interest meadows. We have disinvested
from the fossil fuel industry. We serve more vegan and vegetarian meals than
fish- and meat-based meals. We encourage video conferencing and train journeys
rather than flights. We are introducing electric vehicles and charging stations.
10
But despite all this, the emissions from our estate remain stubbornly high. It felt as if,
however good our intentions, we could never achieve our dream of zero carbon.
Last year we won a grant from the government to conduct a full professional
survey. It set out the facts: we have a twenty-year carbon footprint of 24,000
tonnes of CO2. To bring that down to zero we need to triple glaze our windows;
install air source heat pumps; re-seal the roof; and install as many photovoltaic
cells on the roofs as possible. The report set out the cost of making the College
estate carbon neutral: about £14 million.
college record 2021