Blackout Wales at Bangor University

As part of Bangor University’s efforts to highlight and reduce its energy usage‚ the University will be joining Universities across Wales in “Blackout Wales”, a major exercise on the evening of Friday 21^st March.

The University will be entering the challenge to turn off all non-essential equipment in office areas that have been left on before the weekend (i.e. computers, printers, lights, mobile phone chargers). Afterwards, the University will compare energy usage during the ‘blackout’ with energy use on a comparable weekend. This will show the real savings that can be achieved with just a few small changes to the way people work.

Dr Einir Young, Director of Sustainability at Bangor University said:
“This event will be a way to engage and empower students and staff in sustainability actions, and raise the profile of sustainability issues across the University.

Involvement in this high-impact event sits well with our commitment to ‘Bring Sustainability to life’ and with our reputation as Wales’ Greenest University and one of the top Green Universities in the UK. ”

Staff or students who need to opt out of the audit and need to leave a piece of equipment on  are asked to contact Mair Rowlands m.rowlands@bangor.ac.uk  before 5pm on Tuesday 18th March. The team leader will be responsible for ensuring that the equipment is left on during the event.

National Event - Blackout Wales will be championed by NUS Wales for the first time under the Live Greener banner.  The University of Southampton developed the concept and are working with NUS Wales to ensure that Blackout Wales will be the UK’s biggest switch-off. It will involve Bangor University, Aberystwyth University, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Swansea University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Publication date: 11 March 2014