Energy
Energy is a key focus of our strategy. Our impact on energy use is shaped by the processes and procedures we adopt, the equipment we select, our day-to-day practices, our procurement decisions, and our overall organisational culture.
Building on the significant progress already made, we will continue to harness clean energy opportunities, including renewable and low-carbon technologies, whilst improving efficiency across our operations. We’ll identify and deliver both major and incremental reductions in energy use, lowering our carbon footprint, strengthening security of supply, and reducing financial costs.
Our energy-use goals
Our energy-use goals are to:
- Lower our environmental impact by reducing our energy use by investing in short- and long-term energy infrastructure and efficiency projects business cases.
- Support long-term cost savings through energy reductions.
- Contribute to our broader net-zero ambitions.
- Seek to secure independent and secure power supplies.
- Invest in long-term low-carbon and renewable projects.
- Make clear decisions to decide the future of high-energy-using buildings and infrastructure.
At the Sanger Institute, we are committed to reducing our energy use and improving the efficiency of our operations. As part of our wider sustainability strategy, we are investing in smarter systems, upgrading infrastructure, and optimising the way our buildings and equipment are managed. The steps below outline the key actions we are taking, and have already taken, to lower our energy consumption.
We have installed PV Arrays the roofs of a number of buildings across the, directly supplementing the electrical power supply to these facilities.
We have substantially lowered our energy needs by increasing freezer temperatures from – 80 to – 70 where possible, and reducing the number of freezers required.
We acknowledge that we will never be able to completely remove our reliance on electricity to power our science. We are proud that all the energy we use at the Sanger Institute now comes from REGO-certified renewable sources.
Upgrading our buildings and facilities to use energy more efficiently, while ensuring that energy efficiency is a key consideration in decision-making about the future of Sanger’s Estate. This includes embedding sustainable design principles into refurbishment projects, new developments, and long-term estate planning to reduce energy demand, improve performance, and support our wider net zero ambitions.
We have upgraded our our printer fleet to improve sustainability. Our new printers use 83 per cent less energy and produce 96 per cent fewer consumables.
There is always more that we can do across the Institute to reduce energy consumption. We seek to make energy reduction an Institute-wide habit. To support Sanger staff we provide resources that increase awareness and promote behavioural change around energy reduction. Examples include reminders on equipment and light switch-off labels. We also offer energy monitoring equipment to help teams better understand their energy use. By sharing energy performance information and working with teams to identify trends and opportunities, we enable more informed decision-making and targeted actions that support meaningful reductions across our spaces.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations have created a set of 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Energy consumption supports a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals including:
- affordable and clean energy (to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all)
- climate action (to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact)
- industry, innovation and infrastructure (to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation).
We are proud to support these goals and we developed our Environmental Strategy to embrace and fulfil these goals.
Sanger Sustainability Strategy
Reducing and promoting responsible energy use is just one part of our wider Sanger Sustainability Strategy. It divides our activities into key areas that reflect our most important environmental impacts.
Aligning sustainability with our values and behaviours is central to creating a culture of responsibility and innovation. By embedding sustainability into everyday decisions, we can drive lasting change.
Energy is just one of 12 themes you can explore, each contributing to our shared goal of a more sustainable future.
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