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Our aim is to provide a comfortable working temperature for our staff and students while reducing our impact on the environment.
Keeping our buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer is responsible for more than half of UCL’s total energy spend, leading to over 25,000 tonnes of CO2 every year. This is equivalent to the energy use of 3000 UK homes.
As a part of our Sustainability Plan, UCL is working to identify spaces where energy is being wasted through excessive heating or cooling. Some spaces have legacy heating and cooling problems such as a lack of effective controls which UCL is working to rectify, but some are being heated or cooled more than they need to be. The Heating and Cooling Policy aims to reduce overheating and overcooling to save energy while maintaining a comfortable work environment for staff and students.
The Policy has been developed with wide stakeholder consultation, and in conjunction with experts across UCL Estates, as well as utilising expertise from the UCL Energy Institute. Its guidance matches good practice across the Higher Education sector. The Policy was originally endorsed by UCL’s Estates Management Committee in 2016, and then by the Energy Management Working Group in 2024 following updates.
Read UCL's Heating and Cooling Policy
Key headlines in the policy:
Heating
In winter, autumn and spring UCL will aim to maintain spaces at a temperature of 19 - 21°C while they are occupied. Both of these ranges are in line with guidance from the CIBSE guidance and Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regs 1992.
Air conditioning
Wherever possible natural ventilation - for example openable windows - will be used to keep spaces cool. Air conditioning will only be provided where temperatures regularly exceed 28°C. Where air conditioning is provided UCL will aim to keep temperatures below 24°C.
When will heating or cooling be provided?
As standard, we will keep teaching, research and office spaces a comfortable temperature between 8.00am - 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. Student spaces, libraries and residences will be heated/cooled according to their current opening hours. Where there are regularly late teaching hours or events taking place, these will be accommodated. Laboratories and other spaces which require specific temperatures in order to conduct research will also have bespoke settings.
Can I request heating/cooling to be provided outside of these hours?
Where there are significant changes to working patterns or timings, UCL Estates will work with departments to maintain a flexible approach – requests will be considered on the basis of business need and the number of people affected. Submit a request in MyCampus.
My learning or working environment is too hot or too cold
Problems with heating or cooling levels are most likely to be caused by faults and/ or incorrect settings and, as such, should be reported via MyCampus.
Too cold?
UCL has a historic estate and we are in the process of improving some of our older heating systems. However, where you think that your space is consistently below 19 degrees please log a request in MyCampus. In the short term, these spaces may continue to experience problems due to building condition or use of space; however the policy will make it easier to identify areas where adjustments to controls or repairs to equipment will have the greatest effect.
Too hot?
Air conditioning will only be considered where temperatures are consistently above 28ºC, and only after all other more environmentally friendly alternatives have been assessed. If you feel that your space frequently exceeds 28ºC (e.g. consistently over the summer) you may apply to estates to install air conditioning. Temperatures will need to be logged to understand the temperatures you are experiencing and if approved the system would need to be paid for by your Department. Estates engineers will also need to assess whether excessive temperatures are due to problems with existing ventilation and cooling systems. Log a request in MyCampus.
Using a portable heater or air-conditioning unit?
Personal portable heaters or air-conditioning units are not generally permitted in any University premises. They can prevent the main building systems from working properly, potentially impacting on the comfort of wider building users. They also present health and safety challenges.
The exception to the above is when existing systems have been found by Estates Services to be incapable of meeting acceptable conditions due to plant failure, building conditions, or extreme climatic conditions. In such a situation, any portable heating or cooling devices must be tested and certified with a current electrical safety certificate; noted on a department’s fire risk register; and included in departmental safety inspections.
Under no circumstances should bar or fan heaters with open elements be used.
How else can I save energy?
If you’re interested in other ways to save energy or would like to know how much energy your building uses please see Positive Climate.
