Environmental Sustainability of Universities: Critical Review …
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5.2.2 Energy and Climate Change (EC)
The aims of EC are to increase university’s efforts in building’s energy efficiency and
to take care and focus more on nature and energy resources (Universitas Indonesia
2018). In UI GreenMetric, the EC has the highest weightage with eight (8) indicators
in the areas of concern such as energy efficient appliance usage, implementation of
smart buildings, renewable energy usage policy, total electricity use, energy conservation programmes, elements of green buildings, climate change adaptation and
mitigation programmes, greenhouse gas emission reduction policy and carbon footprint (Universitas Indonesia 2018).
The well-known initiative for these criteria is the establishment of Green Office
(GO). According to Green Office Programme by WWF (2011), the basic principle
of the GO initiative is to promote sustainable improvements in the environmental
work by reducing the environmental impacts of office work. The GO initiatives
include energy efficiency, sustainable management, environmental efficiency, waste
management, environmental awareness and behaviour as well as climate change
mitigation. These initiatives are able to give positive impact on staff’s health and
their surroundings, which in turn would improve productivity.
5.2.3 Waste (WS)
Reducing waste generation is one of the most straightforward ways to save natural
resources. In UI GreenMetric (Universitas Indonesia 2018), there are six (6) indicators in the WS category with the main purpose to encourage more waste treatment
and recycling activities among university staff and students on campus. A good waste
management will become a major factor in creating a sustainable environment. Fortunately, there is a simple approach to achieve this goal. For example, the common
and basic ESI are Zero Waste Campaign, Recycling Activities and Environmental
Awareness and Behaviour Programmes. Every university has a few campaigns and
activities with waste management as a programme objective. The success rate is
high, the process is easy to be sustained and the results are satisfactory. Composting practices also one of the common waste management programmes nowadays.
For example, composting the universities cafeterias’ food waste. From this practice,
the food waste will be handled properly, and the compost produced can be used as
fertiliser and will further improves soil structure.
However, the most environmentally and economically efficient and cost-effective
way to manage waste is using waste minimisation strategy. According to Mallak
(2014), waste minimisation is a “reduction of wastes at the point of generation with
the perception of process due to wastes prevention and reduction”. The growing
numbers of university’s staff and students will generally increase waste generation.
Instead of focusing on reuse, recycling or waste treatment, creating an efficient
process or practices to reduce waste at the point of generation is of crucial.
13
5.2.2 Energy and Climate Change (EC)
The aims of EC are to increase university’s efforts in building’s energy efficiency and
to take care and focus more on nature and energy resources (Universitas Indonesia
2018). In UI GreenMetric, the EC has the highest weightage with eight (8) indicators
in the areas of concern such as energy efficient appliance usage, implementation of
smart buildings, renewable energy usage policy, total electricity use, energy conservation programmes, elements of green buildings, climate change adaptation and
mitigation programmes, greenhouse gas emission reduction policy and carbon footprint (Universitas Indonesia 2018).
The well-known initiative for these criteria is the establishment of Green Office
(GO). According to Green Office Programme by WWF (2011), the basic principle
of the GO initiative is to promote sustainable improvements in the environmental
work by reducing the environmental impacts of office work. The GO initiatives
include energy efficiency, sustainable management, environmental efficiency, waste
management, environmental awareness and behaviour as well as climate change
mitigation. These initiatives are able to give positive impact on staff’s health and
their surroundings, which in turn would improve productivity.
5.2.3 Waste (WS)
Reducing waste generation is one of the most straightforward ways to save natural
resources. In UI GreenMetric (Universitas Indonesia 2018), there are six (6) indicators in the WS category with the main purpose to encourage more waste treatment
and recycling activities among university staff and students on campus. A good waste
management will become a major factor in creating a sustainable environment. Fortunately, there is a simple approach to achieve this goal. For example, the common
and basic ESI are Zero Waste Campaign, Recycling Activities and Environmental
Awareness and Behaviour Programmes. Every university has a few campaigns and
activities with waste management as a programme objective. The success rate is
high, the process is easy to be sustained and the results are satisfactory. Composting practices also one of the common waste management programmes nowadays.
For example, composting the universities cafeterias’ food waste. From this practice,
the food waste will be handled properly, and the compost produced can be used as
fertiliser and will further improves soil structure.
However, the most environmentally and economically efficient and cost-effective
way to manage waste is using waste minimisation strategy. According to Mallak
(2014), waste minimisation is a “reduction of wastes at the point of generation with
the perception of process due to wastes prevention and reduction”. The growing
numbers of university’s staff and students will generally increase waste generation.
Instead of focusing on reuse, recycling or waste treatment, creating an efficient
process or practices to reduce waste at the point of generation is of crucial.