“As a research university with a lot of climate scientists, we have to walk the walk,” says Tim Dennett, Sustainability Manager at the University of Exeter. “The University needed to step up and show leadership not just in the research it produces, but in action.”
Moving beyond traditional energy reporting
Like many institutions, Exeter’s early sustainability reporting focused largely on energy consumption. However, as expectations widened to include broader environmental impacts, particularly Scope 3 emissions, the limitations of traditional systems became clear.
“When we committed to incorporating Scope 3 emissions, it was obvious that existing systems weren’t flexible enough,” explains Melissa Summerfield, Sustainability Reporting Manager. “We needed something beyond energy management , a solution capable of handling multiple data types while remaining robust and auditable.”
To support this shift, the University worked with our team of energy consultants to establish a sustainability reporting framework that brings complex datasets together into a single, auditable view of carbon emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3.
Embedding sustainability through data and engagement
Through the development of its Climate Strategy, the University has placed strong emphasis on embedding a culture of sustainability across teaching, research and operations, aligning robust data with clear communication and action.
A Sustainability Culture Change Task & Finish Group is currently collating benchmark metrics to be hosted within a central data dashboard, enabling the University to track and demonstrate behavioural change over time.
“Sustainability at its heart is behavioural change,” says Dennett. “We can’t achieve it through infrastructure alone; we need people along with us.”
This approach is reflected in initiatives such as Gift It, Reuse It, which redistributes unwanted items left in student accommodation to new students, reducing waste while saving money and enhancing the student experience. Sustainability data is also being used in teaching, with students working directly with real datasets through initiatives such as the Green Consultants programme.
Building confidence through assurance and transparency
With emissions data increasingly subject to external assurance, auditability was a critical requirement.
“We need to be able to track a single number all the way back to its source,” says Dennett. “That traceability is essential for confidence and credibility.”
Flexible dashboards also allow sustainability data to be tailored for different audiences, from senior leadership to students and external stakeholders.
As sustainability expectations continue to evolve, the University of Exeter’s experience highlights the value of flexible, auditable sustainability reporting frameworks.
Read the Customer Spotlight interview with University of Exeter in full