UCL Heating, Cooling & Ventilation Policy

It supports UCL’s specific energy reduction and decarbonisation commitments. UCL spends around £48 million a year (2023-24) on energy and more than 50% of this cost is for heating, cooling and ventilation within our buildings. Not only does this represent a significant cost to the university, but it also has a major environmental impact. Meeting heating and cooling demand results in the UCL Estate emitting around 25,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Read the full policy [pdf]

Scope of this document

• Temperature management and expectations
• Requesting changes and reporting issues with existing heating & cooling
• Procedure for requesting new/ additional cooling or ventilation
• Reasonable adjustments concerning heating & cooling provision

Key principles of UCL’s approach

1. Operate the heating and cooling systems of each building in a way which provides appropriate comfort levels for all users, with minimum energy use and carbon emissions.
2. Use controls which are appropriately adjusted to meet the demand for heating or cooling, and adapted to the specifics of each building’s systems and energy supply.
3. Provide monitoring and oversight to ensure that buildings are operated in line with this policy, and any inefficiencies or optimisation opportunities are identified and registered for timely action.
4. Monitor and review to ensure heating and cooling supply is aligned with the operational schedule of buildings, and adjust building management systems where appropriate.