Energy Consumption Control in De Montfort University

Executive Summary.
The report aims to show the overall advantages and challenges facing De Montfort University
in trying to control energy consumption in the institutions. The idea has been achieved in the
University with the following activities been done. Audits done yearly by the university
management staff has enabled Trinity House to get automatic lighting sensors that can be
used at bathhouses instead of the usual regular bulb tubes to reduce energy consumption.
Hawthorn Building in the University has encouraged switching off lights in the summers
because they are always enough light during the regular working hours. In Portland Building
within the institutions light saving systems such as light-emitting diode are used instead of
room lights in many offices to enhance and promote low levels of energy consumption of the
ordinary desk lamps,that can approximately use up to 6 watts each every hour rather than the
standard room lighting that can result in up to 100 watts per hour. In Eric Wood Building in
the University, the workforce and staff have always been encouraged to switch off their
mains when not in usage to help the university management in reducing the energy bills. The
mentioned places in the university show some of the activities that have been achieved at the
University. The report also explains in details the energy efficiency measures De Mont fort
university has faced in the implementation and the need to control the energy consumption

Energy Efficiency Measures proposed.
De Montfort University has embraced a way to be able to reduce carbon emissions by 43%
by 2020, from extreme 2005 levels. To successfully bring about these significant reductions
in the energy consumption must be cut to be able to use power effectively reducing carbon
contents of energy.
The University has installed a variety of equipment that has helped to provide the same level
of service at the same time, reducing energy consumption. Projects have included: voltage
optimization, boiler load management systems, and lighting control systems. Besides, an
automatic meter reading machine has been used to enhance the collection of data from over
300 gas, water, and electricity across the University. The data collected is monitored to
determine any unusual power usage levels than can result in waste.
Leisure Centre
In the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee leisure center, investment has been made in two
projects that aim at reducing both electricity and gas consumption. Firstly, a cover of the
swimming pool was installed to reduce gas consumption by reducing the heat loss in the
water at the pool when it is not in use. The picture provided below shows an illustration of
how the pool cover is always being removed from the pool at every start of the day.

Variable speed drives have also been installed on the pool circulation pumps to help in
reducing and controlling the speed at which the pumps in the pool can be able to circulate the
water on any typical day. The standard weight taken off the pumps after the drivers were
installed at 3.4kW, which was a little different when the pumps were working without the
drivers. Before installation of drivers, the pumps used to work 24 hours a day daily using an
electric load of 15kW.
The graph drawn below represents the energy consumption of the leisure center during the
week the pumps were not into use(RED LINE) and also the blue shaded area that shows and
indicates the energy consumption rates after the pumps were installed in the pool. A
significant change can be noticed in the difference in the energy use before and after the
installation of the pumps, approximately saving of about 50 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year
were achieved therefore in total about £ 12000 will be saved yearly comparing to the other
years.

The pictures shown above represent and show one of the speed drives that standardizes the
circulation pumps in the pool, and the central controller whose work is to sample the pool
water to determine the most effective pump speed to be used.