Reaching net zero carbon: new UCL buildings closures

As part of UCL’s commitment to reaching net zero carbon by 2030, and in light of dramatic increases in energy costs, the Campus Experience and Infrastructure Team have been working on various measures to reduce energy consumption across the campus. These include the closure of selected buildings out of hours, so that heating, lighting, ventilation and other non-critical equipment can be switched off or put into low power modes.

Recently, we gathered feedback around these upcoming building closures. Most of the UCL community affected are strongly supportive of our institutional drive both to reduce carbon emissions and to address our spiralling energy costs, which are predicted to rise by 125% over the next year. Following discussions and feedback involving a variety of building users, we are implementing adjusted opening times starting from this Friday 17th June: 7am to 10pm on weekdays; 10am to 9pm at weekends. Outside these hours, alternative workspace will be made available to all UCL staff on the 2nd floor of Bidborough House (card access will automatically be updated). Student study space is available 24/7 at the Student Centre with evening and weekend openings in a variety of library spaces across the campus. Card access will be disabled during the closure periods.

Over the next six weeks, we will be working to further restrict the opening times where possible (7pm – 7am and full weekend closures); however, we will also be developing a clear exclusions process to avoid unreasonable impacts on teaching, research, events, or other activities. We understand this may involve changes to the way you access your building. However, given both environmental and economic factors, it’s essential that UCL strikes the right balance between energy consumption and the way that we use our spaces.

The following buildings will be affected:

• 10-11 Montague St
• 10 Woburn Square
• 11 Woburn Square
• 2 Taviton St
• 31 Tavistock Square
• 34 Tavistock Square
• 3-4 Taviton St
• 35 Tavistock Square
• 36-39 Gordon Square
• 48 Gordon Square
• 49-51 Gordon Square
• Bentham House
• Bidborough House
• Gordon House
• Henry Morley Building
• Maple House
• Rubin Building

Please direct any questions towards estates.energy@ucl.ac.uk. More information will be forthcoming over the coming weeks.