Since 1991, each year, we celebrate National Energy Conservation Day to raise awareness on the importance of energy conservation for the present as well as future generations. The UGC in 2020 proposed a sustainable campus framework. I have looked for the greenest campus in India, which are integrating sustainability practices into their programs and student experiences.
I still remember Lester Brown’s quote from our school textbook, “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers, we have borrowed it from our grandchildren.” Unfortunately, for a very long time, we have failed to understand this.
In 2015, India committed itself to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the education sector can play a pivotal role in implementing SDGs.
Acknowledging the need and concerns, University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2020 proposed a sustainable campus framework to set out the principles for achieving a green and sustainable campus environment for Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It will not only help institutions to go green but also teach the youth the importance of maintaining ecological balance and ensuring sustainable development.
1. IIM, Bangalore
Spread over a lush 100-acre campus, it is one of India’s premier management institutions. Professor M S Narasimhan, Dean, Administration, says, “Living in a sustainable manner and integrating environmental education into the learning process helps students understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment and enable them to make informed decisions as managers of the future.”
The campus has solar panels, rainwater harvesting and a modest recycling centre where it is the responsibility of everyone on campus to separate their waste. Most of this waste is reused as it gets composted at a biogas plant on campus.
IIMB has also won awards for its horticulture initiatives, documentation of flora and fauna, readiness to adopt and nurture translocated trees, and sustainable practices and clean energy use.
2. Universal Business School, Mumbai
With a sprawling 40 acres campus in Green Karjat Valley, the campus employs 70% renewable energy (912 solar panels). In addition, it has water harvesting ponds and waste management plants. The 16 acres of green zone habitat in the campus is dedicated to various flora and fauna, including 7,500 plant species.
It is also the first MBA school in India to publish its own ESG report. Tarun Anand, chairman, Universal Business School, says, “I believe that the most critical and urgent issue that humanity needs to solve is climate change as it affects all of us together.
“At Universal Business School, subjects like Green Marketing, Green Finance, Green HR and Green Supply Chain & Logistics are all mandatory credit-based courses. Following sustainable practices helps students to create a positive impact in every enterprise they join.”
3. Mangalore University
Spread over an area of 353 acres, the campus has forest vegetation of around 114 acres. Located in the historic coastal town of Mangalore, the campus is ranked first in the country and 139th in the world for Most Sustainable University in 2020 by Green Metric.
Vice-Chancellor P S Yadapadithaya says, “The university administration plans to turn the campus clean, green, and fit through various measures. The campus has an eco-friendly infrastructure with waste and water management, and various researches on sustainability are in progress.”
4. St Teresa College, Ernakulam
Situated in Kerala, this campus has bagged the National Energy Conservation Award 2019 instituted by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. Sajimol Augustine, the principal, says, “We have an initiative called I-CONNECT, Initiatives for CONservation of Nature and Energy Coordinated by Teresians in which we aim to build a responsible generation towards the cause of conservation of nature and energy.”
5. IIT Roorkee
Spread over an area of 365 acres, the campus has greenery covering all parts of the campus. Students and faculty conducted an energy audit to reduce energy and electricity consumption.
Prof R P Saini, Department of hydro and renewable energy, says, “Other than solarification of campus and use of green material for construction, the prototype testing for harnessing from flowing surface water is in progress. There is a need for new sustainable sources of energy to power the remotest areas of the country.”