Universities across the UK are cutting energy use and carbon emissions at markedly different rates, according to new analysis from energy comparison service Uswitch Energy, which ranks institutions based on efficiency gains and renewable energy uptake.

Using data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, Uswitch Energy assessed energy consumption, carbon emissions and on-site renewable generation across UK universities between 2022 and 2024. The analysis calculated year on year changes on a per student and staff full time equivalent basis, allowing institutions of different sizes to be compared. Universities were then benchmarked and awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze ratings based on their performance.

The findings sit against a challenging backdrop for the sector. Annual energy costs for further and higher education institutions are estimated at around £200 million, generating approximately 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. In 2010, higher education institutions in England committed to cutting emissions by 43 percent by 2020 and by 83 percent by 2050. Despite these commitments, 59 percent of institutions failed to meet their 2020 greenhouse gas targets.

Uswitch Energy’s analysis identifies a group of universities that have made notable progress in reducing energy demand while limiting carbon emissions, even as student and staff numbers grow. These institutions make up the Gold tier of what Uswitch Energy has termed the University Heating League.

Canterbury Christ Church University tops the Gold tier after recording the largest reductions across the metrics analysed. Between the 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 academic years, energy consumption per student and staff member fell by 39.6 percent, from just over 1,023 kWh to 618 kWh. Carbon emissions per full time equivalent dropped by a similar margin, decreasing by 39.3 percent.

These reductions were achieved while the university’s combined student and staff population increased by around 40 percent, rising from 20,080 to 28,295 full time equivalents. Across the two years, Canterbury Christ Church University averaged 786 kWh of energy use per student and staff member, with average carbon emissions of 152.4 kgCO2e. Renewable sources accounted for 22 percent of total energy consumption in 2023 to 2024.

The University of West London also ranks highly, posting the highest share of renewable energy among the universities analysed. Renewable sources made up 23.2 percent of its total energy consumption in 2023 to 2024. Over the same period, the university reduced energy consumption per student and staff member by 10.6 percent and cut carbon emissions by 11.5 percent.

Average energy use across the two years stood at just over 906 kWh per full time equivalent, with average carbon emissions of 141.4 kgCO2e. The university’s total student and staff population increased slightly year on year, from 11,810 to 12,235.

Manchester Metropolitan University recorded a 16.9 percent reduction in energy consumption per student and staff member, with average usage falling from 1,239 kWh in 2022 to 2023 to just under 1,030 kWh in 2023 to 2024. Carbon emissions per full time equivalent declined by 16.7 percent over the same period. Average emissions across the two years were measured at 219.9 kgCO2e.

Other universities in the Gold tier include Leeds Beckett University, the University of Greenwich, the University of Worcester, Birmingham City University, the University of Salford, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Bournemouth University.

The University of Greenwich delivered one of the steeper year on year improvements, cutting energy consumption per student and staff member by 21.8 percent and reducing carbon emissions by nearly 17 percent. Leeds Beckett University reduced energy use by 13.9 percent and emissions by 12.6 percent, while Birmingham City University achieved reductions of 13.4 percent and 12.1 percent respectively.

Bournemouth University recorded more modest efficiency gains, with a 1.3 percent reduction in energy use and a 2.5 percent fall in carbon emissions. It stood out for its renewable energy use, with renewables accounting for 11.5 percent of total consumption.

Collectively, the Gold tier universities demonstrate that substantial reductions in energy demand and emissions are possible within a short timeframe, even in large and complex estates. Renewable energy adoption varied widely across the group, suggesting that efficiency measures and demand reduction continue to play a major role alongside generation.

A second group of institutions achieved Silver tier status, reflecting moderate but consistent improvements across the same indicators. Liverpool John Moores University reduced energy consumption per student and staff member by 7.2 percent and carbon emissions by 7.8 percent. Average energy use across the two years was just under 1,070 kWh per full time equivalent.

De Montfort University recorded smaller reductions of just over 4 percent in both energy use and emissions, while the University of South Wales cut energy consumption by 5.3 percent and sourced just over 4 percent of its energy from renewables.

University for the Creative Arts posted one of the larger reductions within the Silver tier, lowering energy consumption per student and staff member by 9.7 percent and carbon emissions by 9.4 percent. Renewable energy accounted for close to 10 percent of its total consumption in 2023 to 2024.

Uswitch Energy’s findings point to uneven progress across the sector, but also show that targeted action on energy management can deliver rapid results. By using per full time equivalent measures, the analysis highlights performance independent of institutional size, while year on year comparisons show the pace at which change is occurring.

With energy costs remaining high and long term emissions targets still in place, the data offers a snapshot of where progress is being made and where further gains are possible. As universities continue to balance financial pressure, estate expansion and climate commitments, the performance of the highest ranked institutions provides evidence that significant reductions in energy use and carbon emissions can be achieved within existing operational constraints.

For for information you can visit the website at www.uswitch.com