Analysis of electricity and water end-uses in university campuses: case-study of the University of Bordeaux in the framework of the Ecocampus European Collaboration

In large university campuses, electricity and water uses are similar to those of medium-sized cities, as demonstrated by the Ecocampus European Collaboration. The diversity of activities and energy end-uses can be considered as significant as in a city where residential, commercial and industrial uses are present. The main goal of the paper is to define and implement a tool allowing to address the diversity of activities and end-uses when analysing energy demand and environmental impact on a campus. Electricity and water uses on the campus of University of Bordeaux were studied, with support of both the French Electricity Utility and the Regional Water Utility Commission. The method which is presented relies on the evaluation of floor surface area-based ratios for each activity, and requires the assessment of reference values to be used on the campus. As implemented, the method shows the relative share of major uses and allows to estimate water conservation potential at the campus scale. For both electricity and water, a special attention is paid to R&D uses, with that sector being the most significant in terms of consumption and annual growth.