Marjon Zero Project

In 2021, Plymouth Marjon University embarked on a 12-month Ground Source Heat Pump project totalling £3.5m, bringing the institution closer to its carbon neutral target.

The project was the largest non-domestic Ground Source Heat Pump installation in England at the time and brought 98 pumps to the University’s campus. The project was funded by Salix as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

What are Ground Source Heat Pumps?
A Ground Source Heat Pump (GHSP) is a central heating and cooling system designed to transfer heat from the ground’s upper layers. This enables us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

The University previously installed more than 2,000 solar panels across its academic buildings, and along with the GSHPs, could produce enough energy to charge 66 million smart phones! In 2023, Marjon announced its divestment from fossil fuels and updated its Ethical Investment Policy to exclude all fossil fuel investments from its portfolio.

Students at the University are acutely aware of the climate emergency and encourage leaders to find ways to continue making Marjon a more sustainable place. Students played an integral role in the University’s Marjon Zero project, an aim to be carbon-neutral by 2030.

The Plymouth Marjon campus sits in the north of Plymouth, with views spanning Dartmoor National Park and Plymouth Sound. The University benefits from sprawling green grounds, including a woodland, pond, beehive, allotment, and quad, all buzzing with diverse plant and animal life.

Marjon has an open campus, free for exploring. The Plymouth community is welcome to explore the natural spaces, spend time enjoying the greenery, and make the most the all the public offerings available on site.

Find out what Marjon has to offer and how to get there here.