The Potential Role of Stakeholders in the Energy Efficiency of Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) have a huge potential to save energy as they are significantly more energy-intensive in comparison with commercial offices and manufacturing premises. This paper provides an overview of the chief actions of sustainability and energy efficiency addressed by the Un...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2020-11, Vol.12 (21), p.8908
Main Authors: Garrido-Yserte, Rubén, Gallo-Rivera, María-Teresa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon
Climate change
College campuses
Colleges & universities
Corporate image
Cost control
Education
Energy conservation
Energy consumption
Energy efficiency
Energy industry
Energy policy
Environmental impact
GDP
Green buildings
Gross Domestic Product
Higher education
Higher education institutions
Social responsibility
Students
Sustainability
Sustainable development
Sustainable practices
Trends
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Summary:Higher education institutions (HEIs) have a huge potential to save energy as they are significantly more energy-intensive in comparison with commercial offices and manufacturing premises. This paper provides an overview of the chief actions of sustainability and energy efficiency addressed by the University of Alcalá (Madrid, Spain). The policies implemented have shifted the University of Alcalá (UAH) to become the top-ranking university in Spain and one of the leading universities internationally on environmentally sustainable practices. The paper highlights two key elements. First, the actions adopted by the managerial teams, and second, the potential of public–private collaboration when considering different stakeholders. A descriptive study is developed through document analysis. The results show that energy consumption per user and energy consumption per area first fall and are then maintained, thereby contributing to meeting the objectives of the Spanish Government’s Action Plan for Energy Saving and Efficiency (2011–2020). Because of the research approach, the results cannot be generalized. However, the paper fulfils an identified need to study the impact of HEIs and their stakeholders on sustainable development through initiatives in saving energy on their campuses and highlights the role of HEIs as test laboratories for the introduction of innovations in this field (monitoring, sensing, and reporting, among others).
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su12218908