This month, I would like to look back on the previous year and look ahead to the coming year. What challenges were there? What challenges lie ahead? Who can I welcome to a small 'Sustainability Think Tank' where we discuss these issues together?

We’ve saved a bit more again!

In 2025, by continuing to use our heating and cooling sensibly (all radiators set to 3, no heating during the summer months, windows closed) and by tackling unnecessary electricity consumption on a few occasions (lights off, monitors off, reducing the number of small household appliances in the offices), we’ve once again managed to reduce our total energy consumption in 2025 by a small amount! And we can do even better if we can all pull together and ‘flip the switch’ even more often.

Unnecessary use of IT equipment

In 2026, we will continue to reduce our total energy consumption. In collaboration with the ISSC, we will investigate whether we can prevent ICT equipment in the study environment from being left on unnecessarily, and we will implement even more smart interventions in our operations. 

This month I'd like to take a look at our heating policy in the Agora. The university policy is 'thermostat at 19 degrees in all university buildings in winter'. For the Agora this works differently because of the building's insulation and an outdated heating system, so we also have to deal with this set standard in a different way. An outside agency investigated how we could best heat the Agora while also looking at waste. All radiators on setting 3 would give the most optimal balance in the winter months. Note that a good warm sweater on the days when it is really cold outside (temperature below or around freezing), is not a luxury. More tips.   

In this month we experience a mix of colder days and the first feelings of spring with temperatures in the double digits. There are no huge changes from February when it comes to heating and cooling. However, this month will be more about 'Window open? Don't forget to shut it later!' And, of course, spring cleaning. A good time to clean up the workplace. 

Spring is now well underway. In this month, I like to look back on the winter and our energy consumption at the difficult times when it has been very cold in the Agora after all. This dashboard provides information about that.

In this month, I like to work (with you?) to set up and implement newly formulated interventions. In 2026 we are looking at the PC's and monitors in the Agora being turned on early each morning and off again at the end of the evening by means of a so-called 'pulse'. Together with Information Management and the ISSC, we are looking at whether this can be done differently.

This last busy month of the current academic year we are preparing for the summer recess, during which we will be in the Agora with far fewer people. Consider a reset intervention: 

• All radiators on position 3 (thermostatic valve) 
• All windows closed 
• All lights in the work rooms off 
• All monitors off (not standby) 
• All PC's in the study rooms off (not standby) 

Together with you, I would like to 'turn the switch' this month. This month we will make our rounds on 25 June at 16h! Contact me if you would like to help with this. It will take about an hour of your time.

In July and August we are on summer break. Of course there is still plenty happening in the Agora, but many people are also absent. In terms of operations, not much happens.

September is traditionally the start of the new academic year and, in terms of staffing, the busiest month in the Agora. We will look back on the first eight months of the year and determine what things still need attention. 

In the past, Urgenda held the 'Day of Sustainability' on October 10. I am looking forward to declaring a 'Day of Sustainable FSW' in October. What things will we do or not do on that day? What initiatives for next year do we have? Think with me! 

In November we will make plans. We look ahead to next year and the Sustainability Agenda. What interventions will we come up with?

This last busy month of the calendar year, we are preparing for the Christmas vacations, when we will be in the PdlC with far fewer people. Consider a reset intervention: 

• All radiators on position 3 (thermostatic valve) 
• All windows closed 
• All lights in the work rooms off 
• All monitors off (not standby) 
• All PCs in the study rooms off (not standby) 

Together with you, I would like to 'turn the switch' this month. This month we will make our rounds on 3 December at 16h!Contact me if you would like to help with this. It will take about an hour of your time. 

In addition, we will be checking how we have managed waste (rubbish, energy, food and drink) this year. We will collect the figures and publish them.