Campus Sustainability Research Articles

Sustainable UAO: Paving the Way Forward in the Rise of Sustainability as Institutional Ethos

In response to the pressing global environmental crisis precipitated by the transgression of planetary boundaries due to human activity, the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAO) has made a steadfast commitment to the development of theories, strategies, and practices concerning sustainability since the late 1990s. Through the establishment of both undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as research projects and the Sustainable Campus initiative, UAO has laid the groundwork for national and international recognition in addressing sustainability. Acknowledging the progress made and the historical context, UAO recognizes that the time has come to take a significant quality step towards a more comprehensive and dedicated commitment. This step involves elevating sustainability to the status of institutional ethos. This entails ensuring that the principles of sustainability are prominently and explicitly integrated into the core functions of the university, including teaching, research, and social outreach. This work looks at the journey thus far and, more importantly, charts the course for the future in the elevation of sustainability as institutional ethos. It highlights the key milestones achieved over the past two decades while identifying the most significant challenges and barriers that the university must confront and overcome in the near future to fully embody this ethos. By doing so, UAO aims to realize its ambitious goal of becoming a truly sustainable institution.

Toward a Vision of Sustainable University: Linkages between Commitment and Practices

Sustainability management plays a significant role in higher education. Development of a sustainable university involves integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations into various aspects of its operations, including campus infrastructure, curriculum, research, and community engagement. This urgently requires a strong commitment as a driving force behind sustainable initiatives, guiding actions, decisions, and investments toward achieving sustainability goals. IPB University as one of the most prominent universities in Indonesia is not only committed to becoming a sustainable university but also consistent in developing strategic plans to pursue its vision. Guided by this vision, IPB University has specifically established the Sustainable Campus Development Office (SCDO) to devise comprehensive sustainability plans outlining its goals, targets, and strategies for reducing environmental impact, promoting social equity, and ensuring economic viability. While it is still on progress, this commitment has played a significant role in encouraging sustainability practices at the university. It provides a foundation for leadership, governance, resources allocation, curriculum integration, student engagement, community partnerships, monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement toward achieving sustainability goals. In addition, the university has established several sustainability values as guidance and indicators for maintaining sustainable practices. Integrating values and commitment is thus critical to realizing sustainable practices from generation to generation.

Intelligent Monitoring and Visualization System for High Building Nighttime Utilization Based on Image Processing.

The rise of complex high-rise buildings has made building management increasingly challenging, especially the nighttime supervision of university laboratories. Idle occupation increases the risk of accidents and undermines campus sustainability. Effective occupancy detection is essential for optimizing campus building safety and energy efficiency. Environmental sensors for occupancy detection offer limited coverage and are costly, making them unsuitable for campuses. Surveillance cameras, as part of campus infrastructure, provide wide coverage. On this basis, we designed a detection algorithm that uses light brightness to assess nighttime building use. Experimental results showed that the algorithm achieves an average accuracy of 98.67%, enabling large-scale nighttime occupancy detection without the need for installing additional sensors, significantly improving the efficiency of campus building management. In addition, to address the limitations of indoor space representation in geographic information system (GIS) management models, this paper developed a comprehensive 3D GIS model based on a "building-floor-room" hierarchical structure, utilizing oblique photogrammetry and laser scanning technology. This study combined the detection results with real-world 3D data for visualization, providing a new perspective for the 3D spatiotemporal refinement of complex high-rise buildings, and providing a reference framework for the detection and analysis of other types of building environments.

Food waste separation intention among the residential students: Moderation role of university support

The university has made efforts to promote campus sustainability by encouraging food waste separation among residential students. However, the effect of university support on students' behavioural intentions in this context remains understudied. Moreover, the evidence regarding residential students’ food waste separation intention is relatively deficient compared to other study contexts. To address these gaps, this study aims to achieve two objectives: (1) to investigate the constructs affecting residential students to separate food waste, and (2) to study the moderating effect of university support on the proposed relationships. A novel research framework which integrates environmental knowledge and moral norms into the theory of planned behaviour model, together with the university support as moderator, has been proposed. Primary data from 191 residential students in Malaysia were collected through purposive sampling and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The study’s findings revealed that students’ intentions to separate food waste are influenced by attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and moral norms. Besides, the moderation analysis confirmed that university support significantly strengthen the relationship between attitude and intention to separate food waste in the university context. This finding offered valuable theoretical contributions regarding the moderation role of university support and provides practical implications for promote positive food waste behaviours among residential students.

Examining stakeholder attitudes towards tree ecosystem services and disservices in urban environments: insights from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak

ABSTRACT Urbanisation is a growing public health concern worldwide. Green spaces and trees provide critical ecosystem services in urban areas. The perceptions and attitudes of people regarding ecosystem services and disservices of trees were studied in one of the cleanest higher education institutions (HEIs) in India. Based on the Likert scale, this research focused on rating and preferences for ecosystem services and disservices from trees by different stakeholders. The study also aimed to understand the importance of socio-demographic variables on stakeholder’s perceptions towards ecosystem services and disservices. The study attempted to capture specific challenges and suggestions regarding tree management on campus. The survey included 367 people representing administrative staff, faculty members, residents and students from the Maharshi Dayanand University Campus (MDU), Rohtak (Haryana), India. Perceptions of different stakeholders were explored through a semi-structured questionnaire. Respondents rated oxygen (O2) production, medicinal potential and air pollution reduction services of trees as very important. They also highlighted some disservices of the trees on the university campus, such as problems with pollen allergy, litter, blocking of sunshine and monkey menace. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified eight significant varimax factors (VFs) for ecosystem services and disservices, explaining 59.59% of the variance in the data. Ordinal regression analysis indicated a strong correlation between residents on campus, educational background, marital status and ratings of ecosystem services and disservices. Respondents suggested organising more environmental sensitisation programmes, recruiting staff, ensuring strict compliance with rules and establishing tree clubs. The study concludes that people are highly dependent on campus trees, regard ecosystem services and are not significantly concerned about tree disservices. The findings of this study may motivate and guide universities and higher educational institutions across the globe to explore the perceptions of different stakeholders in understanding the ecological significance of trees for achieving their broad goals of campus sustainability.

Synergy Analysis between Environmental Awareness, Student Participation, and Campus Policies in Waste Reduction and Energy Efficiency at Bina Sarana Informatika University

This research aims to analyze the synergy between three key elements of environmental awareness, student participation, and campus policy in the context of waste reduction and energy efficiency at Bina Sarana Informatika University. The method applied is descriptive observation, where data is collected through field notes in various campus locations as well as in-depth interviews with students. The results indicate that high environmental awareness among students contributes significantly to their active participation in waste management programs and efficient energy use practices. In addition, campus policies that support environmental initiatives were shown to play an important role in increasing student involvement. This synergy between environmental awareness, student participation, and campus policies contributes to the creation of a more sustainable campus environment. The findings also provide strategic recommendations to strengthen environmental education programs and increase student engagement in sustainability-focused campus policies, thereby encouraging more environmentally responsible behavior in the future.

Strategic orientation, green supply chain management practices, and organizational performance: Basis for sustainable campus operation framework

Strategic orientation, green supply chain management practices, and organizational performance: Basis for sustainable campus operation framework

Formal estimation of wireless network services for signal strength and electromagnetic wave association in an International Green University

The United Nations focuses on 17 urgent problems to call for action in all countries. Goal 7 of the 17 urgent problems is based on affordable and clean energy. Since 2017, National Taitung University (NTTU) has dedicated more time and effort to attain the wisdom, health, sustainability and aesthetics as an international green university. To accomplish this, we adhere and construct a safe radiofrequency and electromagnetic wave environment to achieve healthy and sustainable campus objectives. According to the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, NTTU was ranked 74th in 2021, 67th in 2022 and 58th in 2023. In this study, we propose a formal estimation of wireless network services for classrooms or smart spaces to achieve the goal of safe radiofrequency and electromagnetic waves. Inside classrooms or smart spaces, better wireless signal strength and safer electromagnetic waves are achieved. Moreover, the proposed method can be used to determine the quantity of wireless access points for a given classroom or smart space to avoid unsafe electromagnetic waves and inappropriate energy consumption. The experimental results show that all benchmarks meet the wireless exposure limits of the WHO and physician safe technologies in the NTTU.

The links between sustainability dimensions and green campus initiatives in mountain universities

Sustainability and green campus initiatives are widely examined in developed countries but less attention has been paid in developing countries such as Pakistan. Therefore, this study intends to examine the links between sustainability dimensions and green campus initiatives by mediating role of teachers and students’ involvement. Green campus or sustainable campus or environment friendly campus is based on the principles of environmental sustainability, incorporating social, and economic and environmental dimensions. Questionnaire for assessment of sustainability was adopted and 529 responses were received from the faculty, management and servicing staff of the seven Mountain Universities of the Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Northern Pakistan. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PL-SEM) was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that energy conservation, water conservation, green transport, sustainable waste management have enhanced campus green initiatives. Teachers and students’ involvement partially mediate the relationship between green transport strategies, sustainable waste management and green campuses initiatives. While on another hand, teachers and students’ involvement have not mediated the links between energy conservation, water conservation and green campus initiatives. The study contributes to theory building in the area of green and environment friendly campus initiatives by enriching the understanding of the processes carrying the effect of sustainability dimensions and both teachers and students’ involvement.

A decade in review: bibliometric analysis of sustainable performance trends in higher education institutes

The sustainable performance of higher education institutes (HEIs) is key to efficiently manage educational institutes in the long run, to get financial aid from the government, and to keep the interest of stakeholders in the institutions. Researchers have focused on examining the impact of a sustainable curriculum, sustainable teaching methodologies, sustainable campuses, and tools for assessing sustainability in HEIs in past literature. The present bibliometric analysis, combined with network analysis, aims to explore the literature to identify research gaps in the field of sustainable performance or sustainability performance of HEIs. We have employed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram to analyze the results obtained from Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and EBSCOhost databases. A bibliometric analysis using Biblioshiny web application and VOSviewer software was performed on the 263 articles included in the study after screening. The results revealed that the annual growth rate of publications is increasing, indicating that the sustainability performance of HEIs is gaining momentum after the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2017. The production of articles in the field is highest from advanced European countries and the United States, but only a few articles are published from Asian countries. The authors with the highest number of publications and the most cited research article in the field are Leal Filho and Wals, respectively. Authors keywords in HEIs (or institutions) not only have a strong link with sustainability, sustainable education, green campus, and sustainability assessment but also have a small network with sustainable performance, green knowledge sharing, green knowledge management, green human resource management practices, green teams, change management, and organizational commitment. These findings can be used by future researchers to identify unexplored research areas in different contexts.

Towards Entrepreneurial Campus Sustainability: Integrating Artificial Intelligence for Resource Allocation in Business Management

This research delves into the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) within the framework of campus resource allocation, with a primary focus on enhancing business management practices and fostering entrepreneurial sustainability within educational institutions. Through an innovative amalgamation of AI technology and SmartPLS methodology, the study constructs a comprehensive analytical framework aimed at tackling the multifaceted challenges inherent in resource allocation within campus environments. The findings underscore the transformative potential of AI integration in optimizing resource utilization, identifying efficiency gains, and nurturing entrepreneurial endeavors. This paper distinguishes itself from existing studies by presenting a novel approach that emphasizes the unique contributions of AI-driven solutions in both methodological innovation and practical application. By harnessing SmartPLS alongside AI, the research facilitates more accurate resource demand forecasting and enables adaptive decision-making processes, thereby contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting quality education and sustainable management practices. The study also provides a detailed technical implementation of AI algorithms, offering valuable insights into their development and application within campus settings. The broader implications for the educational sector are explored, considering the scalability and adaptability of the proposed solutions in various educational contexts. Furthermore, the research contributes to theoretical advancements by pioneering the integration of AI and SmartPLS in campus management research, offering a fresh perspective on economic, environmental, and social impact assessments of AI-driven solutions.

Life Cycle Assessment as a Catalyst for Embedding Sustainability in Waste Management Practices

The establishment of sustainable campuses acts as a catalyst, fostering a Living Lab environment where active community engagement is crucial. Recognizing the pivotal role of waste management, university campuses prioritize detailed mapping and characterization of organic waste streams. This process paves the way for the identification of alternative scenarios that reduce and divert waste from landfills through valorization routes such as composting and anaerobic digestion. Acknowledging students' pivotal role in shaping sustainable solutions, their perceptions of solid waste separation assume significance. The effectiveness of the current separation system is critical, especially given the monitoring of bin contamination levels, revealing hindrances to organic waste valorization. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) emerges as a valuable tool for identifying alternative scenarios for waste reduction and diversion, encompassing anaerobic digestion, composting, and waste-to-food strategies. This study centers on evaluating and reshaping student perspectives on organic waste separation and end-of-life waste management through LCA. A comprehensive survey was designed to elucidate current perspectives on the efficiency and communication of the existing waste management system. Student insights into waste separation practices revealed that the major barriers to effective waste management practices on campus include a lack of education and awareness regarding waste separation. The survey findings also underscore the significance of LCA not only in measuring carbon footprints but also in influencing perceptions and behaviors towards sustainable waste management practices. In conclusion, our study contributes to the discourse on embedding sustainability in educational settings, offering valuable insights for institutions aspiring to drive positive change through innovative waste management strategies.

Research on the energy saving behaviors of university students based on TPB in a hot summer–cold winter area in China

Energy saving in higher education institutions holds significant importance in the establishment of environmentally friendly and low-carbon societies, with the energy-saving behaviors of university students playing a pivotal role in the development of sustainable campuses. However, there is a clear need for customized strategies to encourage energy-saving habits among university students in areas of China with extreme weather conditions, such as hot summers and cold winters. This study offers a thorough examination of the literature regarding energy-saving behaviors among college students and presents a new theoretical framework based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A survey questionnaire is conducted at universities in regions with hot summers and cold winters across China, with the goal of identifying the main factors that influence students' intentions and actions regarding campus energy conservation. From July to August 2022, we collected 512 survey responses from different university campuses in China's hot summer-cold winter weather zone. The survey asked about subjective norms, understanding of energy conservation, and the importance of saving energy. Utilizing the Structural Equation Model (SEM), we examined how influencing factors are associated with energy conservation behaviors. Our findings indicate that (1) both the significance of energy conservation and subjective norms significantly drive energy-saving actions; (2) distinct factors impact different forms of energy-saving practices; and (3) the inclination to save energy partially mediates the relationship between comfort choices and the significance of energy conservation. This study presents a validated behavioral model tailored for regions experiencing hot summers and cold winters, offering valuable insights for college administrators in managing energy usage while also serving as a theoretical reference for establishing environmentally sustainable campuses.

Sustainable University Campuses: Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Lightscapes in Outdoor Spaces

A lightscape, as a special visual landscape, has unique temporal and spatial characteristics that traditional photometric measurements and descriptions struggle to capture accurately. Despite their significance, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of the on-site perception of lightscapes’ temporal and spatial characteristics, including in outdoor university campus spaces. This study aims to explore the temporal and spatial characteristics of outdoor lightscapes on university campuses and their potential perceptual influencing factors, providing sustainable design, planning, and management suggestions for campus lightscapes. This study was conducted in the Wushan Campus of the South China University of Technology. It employs a “lightwalk” method for on-site perception evaluation, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to investigate the temporal and spatial characteristics of lightscapes in outdoor university campus spaces and the effect of temporal and spatial factors on lightscape perception. The main findings are as follows: (1) Meteorological, architectural, and biophilic lightscape dominate the outdoor campus lightscapes. (2) The temporal and spatial characteristics of the lightscapes are affected by changes in natural light, the transition of light sources from day to night, human activity patterns, and the functional characteristics of the site. (3) The correlation between meteorological and traffic lightscape types and lightscape perception is diminished during the evening periods. This method should be a good way to optimize water and architectural lightscape at night to alleviate discomfort. (4) In green-shaded spaces, the association between meteorological, architectural, and traffic lightscape types and the evaluations of emotional, luminous, and eventful aspects is significantly enhanced, suggesting an increase in such spaces to improve lightscape experience quality. This study advocates that the construction of buildings and environments should be “human-oriented”, paying attention to the scientific foundation that humans perceive the habitat environment through the “five senses”. Research on lightscapes’ temporal and spatial characteristics, exploration of the temporal and spatial modes of lightscape perception, and avoiding energy waste and light pollution are conducive to the design and construction of university campuses in line with the principles of sustainable development. The lightscape optimization strategies derived from this study can not only provide practical guidance for the design and management of campus but also may offer valuable recommendations for planning sustainable campus development.

Research on the Effect of Planting Design on the Thermal Comfort of Campus Sidewalk in Tunghai University, Taiwan

The objective of this study is to elucidate the principal determinants influencing the thermal comfort of campus sidewalks, and to discern the nexus between sidewalk planting configurations and thermal comfort. Initially, thermal environment simulations are conducted across various temporal intervals, predicated upon the extant sidewalk planting configuration. Subsequently, an analysis is undertaken to delineate the causative factors contributing to suboptimal thermal comfort within the prevailing milieu. Finally, an evaluation of configurations conducive to enhancing campus thermal comfort through divergent planting design solutions is undertaken, thereby engendering discourse on sidewalk planting design. The findings show that impermeable pavement, encompassing sidewalks and driveways, emerges as the pre-eminent precipitant of diminished thermal comfort within the study locale. The implementation of a double-row staggered tree-planting approach, coupled with multi-layered shrub planting, emerges as the optimal solution for augmenting thermal comfort. Consequently, the outcomes of this study proffer discernibly superior alternatives for ameliorating the heat island effect and fostering the establishment of a sustainable campus paradigm.

Broaden sustainable design and optimization of decarbonized campus Energy systems with scope 3 emissions accounting and social ramification analysis

A holistic approach that considers economic, environmental, and social dimensions is crucial for informed and responsible decision-making in energy system decarbonization. Integrating techno-economic, environmental, and social perspectives, we propose a multi-objective optimization framework for the sustainable design of decarbonized campus energy systems, resonating with the tri-fold principles of Corporate Social Responsibility. This comprehensive approach reveals the techno-economic intricacies inherent in adopting renewable solutions to accommodate cooling, heat, and power demand on university campuses. Our proposed model endeavors to minimize both total annualized costs and the broader spectrum of emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3) in pursuit of environmental justice. Meanwhile, by merging life cycle assessment (LCA) with economic input-output analysis based on established social LCA databases, we can gauge the potential social impacts associated with these sustainability initiatives. The results serve as a roadmap for designing and operating truly sustainable campus energy systems, pinpointing environmental concerns, suggesting remedial strategies, and spotlighting the resultant social consequences. To showcase the tangible applicability of this holistic modeling framework, we have used real-world data from the main campus of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York State, to develop a case study. Our results show that with a plentiful biogas supply, it is possible to reduce yearly GHG emissions by more than 70%. Even when procurement emissions are left out, Scope 3 emissions still represent 69–82% of the total GHG emissions, dominated by the transportation sector. Turning to sustainable transport options, such as electric vehicles (EVs), can markedly lower these figures. On the socio-economic front, ramping up geothermal drilling could intensify negative social consequences, such as risk of forced labor, conflicts, accidents, and natural disasters, by 29%. These are primarily due to safety issues and the labor demands of earth source heat site preparation, encompassing risks such as forced labor and accidents. As the push for energy decarbonization grows stronger, it is imperative to weigh these downsides against the broader social benefits.

Campus sustainability office representations of the DEIJ-sustainability nexus

The number of campus sustainability offices in the USA has grown over the past two decades. These offices evolve from myriad origins such as an outgrowth of a facilities department, academic administration, or student activism. Some campus sustainability office missions are closely aligned with environmental sustainability, whereas others include the intersection of environmental with human factors such as cultural and economic sustainability. As potential breadth and scope evolves, each college’s sustainability office has new horizons to choose among. These decisions are shaped by factors such as institutional strategic goals, funding, opportunities, and management choices. One of the possible directions for campus sustainability offices is to highlight how the office contributes to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) efforts on campus. These observations are placed into literature on the changing roles of campus sustainability offices, the evolving roles of DEIJ efforts on college campuses, and of website-based representations for audiences internal and external to colleges. In so doing, the article categorizes ways in which sustainability offices present themselves as advancing DEIJ on campuses. This is done by comparing website content from a cross-section of US-based university sustainability offices. Results allow campus decision-makers to see a range of options for advancing DEIJ through sustainability. These results are also of use to faculty in sustainability-related programs to think through course design and community engagement activities. Scholars of higher education management will also be able to see the broader landscape of how DEIJ and sustainability offices align.

Optimization Strategy for the Spatiotemporal Layout of E-Bike Charging Piles from the Perspective of Sustainable Campus Planning: A Case Study of Zijingang Campus of Zhejiang University

With the expansion of Chinese university campuses, electric bikes (E-bikes) have become the most sustainable and effective commuting option because they are a flexible and energy-saving travel mode. Consequently, campus E-bike charging piles have become one of the most essential public service facilities on campuses. However, since most Chinese campuses are closed and independent, the principles of urban public service facilities cannot be simply applied to the layout and use of campus charging facilities. Thus, this study focuses on Zijingang Campus at Zhejiang University, and proposes an optimization strategy for the spatial and temporal layout of E-bike charging piles on the campus. First, trip chain demand models are constructed to examine the travel patterns of E-bike users on campus and the demands for charging areas and time. Second, a space location model is constructed to locate the charging piles in areas with high demand. Finally, according to the charging times of different users, user charging time is integrated into the strategy. This study enhances the layout and utilization system of campus E-bike charging facilities by considering both temporal and spatial dimensions. Overall, this study contributes to the advancement of sustainable transportation infrastructure planning on a campus-wide scale, offering theoretical insights for the design and utilization of functional facilities in large-scale, semi-enclosed environments (e.g., university campuses).

Study on Campus Landscape Micro-Renewal Design under Sustainable Design Theory: The Hainan University Youth Memory Square Renovation Project

With the rise of global sustainable development, sustainable design theory is increasingly applied to landscape design. Campus landscape micro-renewal is closely tied to sustainable design. As important places for teachers and students to work and study, campuses require thoughtful landscape micro-renewal design based on sustainable design theory. This paper uses sustainable design theory to study campus landscape micro-renewal design, focusing on three main aspects: First, it analyzes the policy and industry background of sustainable design theory to clarify the needs for campus landscape renewal. Second, it examines the connotation of sustainable design theory and micro-renewal design theory, elucidating their application methods and strategies in campus landscape micro-renewal. Third, it discusses the practical application of sustainable design theory in campus landscape micro-renewal, proposing design strategies based on specific project conditions. The case study of the Youth Memory Square at Hainan University aims to further promote sustainable campus development and provide design ideas for future campus landscape micro-renewal projects.

Kurangnya Kesadaran Mahasiswa dalam Membuang Sampah Pada Tempatnya di Lingkungan Kampus

The aim of this research is to determine students' awareness of the importance of disposing of rubbish in the right place, which is an important part of maintaining a clean campus environment. However, this lack of awareness often becomes a detrimental problem, reflecting a lack of understanding of the negative impacts of this behavior. Several factors that may influence this lack of awareness include a lack of environmental education, ignorance of environmental impacts, and a lack of enforcement of regulations related to waste management. The importance of improving student awareness in this regard cannot be overstated, considering their important role in maintaining the cleanliness and sustainability of the campus environment. Therefore, coordinated efforts are needed between educational institutions, local governments and the community to increase students' awareness of the importance of disposing of waste in the right place through education, social campaigns and consistent enforcement of rules. In this way, it is hoped that a clean, healthy and sustainable campus environment can be created for the entire academic community.