The world is facing an immediate environmental crisis. Human actions like burning fossil fuels and deforestation have led to a catastrophe and an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emission is a major human cause of climate change.

University campuses can contribute significantly to climate change. The university laboratories and on-campus transport emit significant greenhouse gases. So, universities should try their level best to mitigate the effects of climate change. It is here that the concept of Green Campus emerges.

What is a Green Campus?

A green campus is where environmentally friendly practices and education combine— its goal is to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices. The concept of a green campus offers an institution the opportunity to redefine its campus and come up with new eco-friendly and more sustainable strategies.

A green campus refers to an area with optimum land use, with environmental planning and resource management. The aim is to improve energy efficiency, conserve resources, enhance environmental quality, including habitat preservation. And promote a healthy living environment that focuses upon the management of waste and water recycling.

Greening the campus is all about reducing wasteful practices. The use of non-conventional sources like solar energy and biomass energy can efficiently meet an educational institution’s energy needs. The University can also purchase environment-friendly supplies and conduct an effective recycling program.  Thus, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability should be the two pillars upon which the green campus concept needs to be based.

Steps that a University can take to turn Eco-friendlier

The onus to make the campus of any educational institute green or eco-friendly rests on all the stakeholders. It is the management, faculty, administrative workers, and students’ duty to work in close association and make the campus greener. The requirement is to apply the latest technologies in providing clean and renewable sources of energy in place of the traditional ones. The latest technology can also provide for more energy-efficient and low-carbon transport solutions, which can reduce the transportation sector’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Given below are specific steps by which educational institutions can go a long way in making their campuses greener:

• Rainwater Harvesting: Scarcity of water is a significant concern that universities and the entire country face. Campuses can tackle this issue by setting up a rooftop rainwater harvesting unit. This stored water can then be effectively used for several purposes like watering the plants, usage in toilets, among others.
• Waste Management: The organic waste of the campus, like kitchen waste and dried leaves, can be turned into compost using waste converters or vermicomposting.
• Wastewater Management: A University can set up a wastewater treatment facility within its campus. This treated water can be used for several purposes.
• Green Infrastructure: The University should allow e-rickshaws to ply within the University campus, bicycling should be encouraged, and public transportation should be fuelled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
• Green Cover: A University can construct botanical gardens, conduct tree plantation campaigns, and sampling distribution to promote a green campus.
• Zero-waste Campus: The University should encourage the segregation of waste. There should be separate dustbins for biodegradable wet waste and inorganic dry waste and a total ban on single-use plastic and straws inside the campus.
• Switching to Renewable Energy: Due to surging electricity bills and the desire to contribute towards a green future, many educational institutions worldwide are turning to solar energy to meet their energy demands. Solar power provides warm water in geysers, helps run laboratories, auditoriums, and illuminates street lights within the University campus.

India is a signatory of all environmental protection goals undertaken the world over. The country also has specific environmental goals like combating climate change and its impact, ensuring inclusive growth. To this end, all citizens and organizations alike should work hand in hand and ensure that India fulfills its obligations.

Specific energy-saving tips that the students and faculty can implement in their daily routine include:

• Activate power management features on your computer and monitor to go into “sleep” mode when you are not working on it.
• Do turn off your laptop, monitor when not in use.
• Whenever possible, shut down rather than logging off.
• Turn off unnecessary lights and use daylight instead.
• Avoid the use of decorative lighting.
• Use LED and CFL bulbs instead of standard bulbs as these are more energy-efficient.
• Keep lights off in classrooms, lecture halls, conference rooms, laboratories when they are not in use.
• Use Air Conditioners only when necessary.
• Unplug appliances not plugged into power strips like chargers, appliances, and printers.

Keeping these small things in mind can go a long way in protecting the environment. Living sustainably and integrating environmental education into the learning process helps students understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment. And this enables them to make informed decisions as managers of the future.