The University of York has announced new Winter 2024 building closures, which will affect 137 non-residential buildings across campus, an increase of 47 from last year. This leaves only 77 buildings unaffected.
The scheme involves temporarily closing non-residential buildings, or keeping them open at “limited capacity” – access will be available, but the building will be in “weekend mode” and limit the heating to 12 degrees celsius.
Over half of the affected buildings will be closed or running on limited capacity for at least an entire working week.
The University piloted this scheme last year, “to help reduce our carbon footprint”. 90 University buildings were affected.
Last year, limited access included the Spring Lane Building, Ron Cooke Hub, Central Hall, Careers Building and the Roger Kirk Centre.
This saved the University £70k in energy costs, 400,000 kWh of electricity and gas, and reduced CO2 emissions by more than 80 tonnes.
The expanded scheme is justified by the University as “part of our plans to reduce costs and lower our carbon footprint”.
Several on-campus hubs will remain open as alternative workspaces, including “Berrick Saul, Church Lane, Harry Fairhurst, Ron Cooke Hub, Market Square and Providence House.”
All three libraries remain almost completely open – they are only closed on 25 and 26 December, and on 1 January.
Jonathan Fanning, the Vice-President of UCU's York branch, told Nouse: *"*We are concerned about the impact on staff with differing employment needs, and we think some of the savings calculations are very optimistic in the big picture of things."
