Post by UCL Grand Challenges

What small changes can make a university more sustainable? At UCL, the answer is often simpler than you might think. From setting timers on air conditioning units to choosing the stairs over the lift, everyday decisions can add up to meaningful reductions in energy use across campus. Through the Living Lab: Reducing Energy Waste project, researchers are exploring how UCL can make better use of its existing energy data to identify and eliminate unnecessary consumption across the estate. Using 26 Bedford Way as a pilot site, the team identified avoidable cooling demand and worked with Estates to switch off out-of-hours air conditioning. This single intervention generated annual savings of 12,500 kWh and around £3,700 on just one floor. Beyond the numbers, the project is also mapping barriers to change across UCL, gathering case studies from departments, and building a shared repository of energy-saving ideas to support wider adoption. Energy reduction is now a standing item in Building User Group meetings, with the next phase focused on formalising processes, improving data access, and scaling impact across the institution. Small changes matter. Especially when they are scaled. 🎥 https://bit.ly/4vehg74 Kate Ma John Draper Emily Jennings John Burgess Stephen Dewitt Celeste Mallinson #LCAW2026 #LondonClimateActionWeek #UCL #UCLGrandChallenges #Sustainability