Durham University
Delivering Carbon and Cost Savings Through a Ring-Fenced Carbon Budget
Finalist, Money for Good
About
Since 2011, Durham University has delivered a ring-fenced carbon budget enabling staff to implement projects that reduce emissions while delivering financial savings. 142 projects have been funded, saving more than 9,981 tonnes of CO₂e (up to 24/25) and generating strong financial returns across the estate.
In 2025/26, the fund was reduced from £100,000 to £50,000. Despite this, the scheme continued to deliver high-impact projects with rapid payback, demonstrating its resilience and efficiency. Open to all departments, the programme empowers staff to identify and implement practical solutions, from laboratory upgrades to energy efficiency and waste reduction, embedding sustainability into everyday decision-making. It has also generated a bank of demonstrated successful projects to act as transferable case studies for other departments.
Top 3 learnings
- Small, targeted investments can deliver rapid, high-impact carbon and financial savings.
- Empowering staff unlocks identification of unknown challenges and innovation and drives
sustained behaviour change. - Carbon reduction is most effective when aligned with clear financial returns.
What it means to win
The Green Gown Awards are the most highly regarded recognition of environmental best practice within our sector. To receive recognition from peers and those closely connected to sustainability and higher and further education is especially meaningful. It is inspiring to see and read of the practice and progress of other education institutions through the Green Gown Awards, so it is would be exciting to help set the benchmark and inspire others with our own work. The potential for impact of the way institutions like our own in the way they invest is so significant - recognising our contribution towards driving change in this area would feel important.
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Money for Good | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
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Green Gown Award Regions
Australasia
