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?

A quarter saved!

In 2024, by being smart about our heating and cooling (all radiators on 3, no heating in the summer months, close windows) and by tackling unnecessary electricity consumption (lights off, monitor off, reduce the number of small household appliances in the office spaces), we saved about a quarter of the total energy consumption in 2023! 

Small appliances

In 2025 we will continue to reduce our total energy consumption! We are going to further reduce the number of small household appliances and we are going to apply even more smart interventions in Operations.

This month I'd like to take a look at our heating policy in the PdlC. The university policy is 'thermostat at 19 degrees in all university buildings in winter'. For the PdlC this works differently because of the building's insulation and an outdated heating system, so we also have to deal with this set standard in a different way.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 PdlC 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 PdlC 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 2025 we are looking at the PCs and monitors in the PdlC 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 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. 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 PdlC, 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 PdlC. 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. Contact me if you would like to help with this. It will take about an hour of your time. 

In addition, we will look at how we dealt with waste this year (waste, energy, food & drink).