Reduced energy use in 2025 compared to 2019
Uppsala University has achieved its goal of reducing energy use in 2025. A new circulation heating system in Ångström Laboratory contributed to this positive result. Photo: Mats Kamsten, Uppsala University.
Every year, government agencies in Sweden must report their work on environmental management. The University’s 2025 report states that its goal for reduced energy use in 2025 has been achieved.
The University’s systematic environmental management is reported to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Education in connection with the University's annual report.
The environmental management report for 2025 was adopted by the Vice-Chancellor on 17 February 2026. Here are some interesting points from the report.
Energy use target achieved
Energy use per square metre of building space has decreased by 24 per cent relative to the base year of 2019. This means that the University has achieved its goal of a 20 per cent reduction.
In 2025, several projects were launched to reduce energy use. For example, many of the University’s laboratories have identified machines and standby modes on equipment that consume a lot of energy.
Energy use has also been reduced by adjusting the temperature of laboratory freezers from -80 degrees Celsius to -70 degrees where possible.
A circulation heating system in the ventilation system was also put into operation at Ångström Laboratory. This has helped to reduce the University’s total consumption of district heating by 19 per cent.
Failed to achieve business travel goal
However, the goal for business travel in the 2025 Environmental Plan was not achieved. It was to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per annual full-time equivalent employee relative to emissions in 2019 by 45 per cent. The reduction achieved was only 28 per cent.
A number of initiatives are also being rolled out at the University in the area of business travel. For example, many departments are encouraging their staff to review their need to travel. Which trips are actually necessary? Is it possible to combine multiple purposes into the one trip?
Many parts of the University have started to monitor their emissions from business travel and use this data to discuss how they want to work to reduce emissions – without adversely affecting research and education. As a result, a number of departments have developed their own guidelines or policies for business travel.
There are also departments that have implemented their own compensation systems or other instruments to promote sustainable travel. One example is departments that are trialling co-financing trips with external funds, provided that the traveller chooses a more sustainable mode of transport. Another example is departments that have introduced a charge for flying, where the funds this generates go into a pot that funds train travel.
Anders Berndt