Committed to its mission of promoting
sustainability and environmental stewardship, Far Eastern University (FEU)
aspires to implement more sustainable operations, including the use of 50%
renewable energy by 2028.
As the threat of environmental degradation and
climate change continues to loom not just in the country but also globally, FEU
believes that universities are in a special position to help address this
crisis.
In a recent seminar on “Braving New Heights
for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” FEU president Juan Miguel Montinola
emphasized the importance of raising awareness about existing environmental
issues and how FEU as a university believes in the effectiveness of the United
Nations’ SDGs as a framework in tackling these issues.
“It’s not just sustainability alone, but
sustainability with a purpose,” said Montinola. “We are talking about the
livability of our planet in the present and in the future, and reflecting on
this is something that the university must instill upon the youth.”
Sustainable
operations
Montinola also shared how the university’s
drive toward sustainability started more than a decade ago.
One of these initiatives is the strategic
investment in a district cooling chilled water plant system which currently
supplies 11 out of 12 campus buildings—a project that encourages responsible
consumption and climate action in adherence to SDGs 12 and 13.
Other sustainable operations include a central
filtration plant for clean water (SDG 6), the use of a Building Management
System in the FEUture Building (SDG 12), and compliance with proper waste
management regulations and rainwater harvesting, resulting in substantial cost
savings for the university.
With these interventions, the university
recorded a 6.99% reduction in power consumption in 2023 compared to the
pre-pandemic face-to-face period in 2019. FEU also recorded a significant
reduction in carbon emissions, which was found equivalent to the sequestration
of 17,074 mature trees.
Moreover, FEU boasts having the first academic
building in the country to receive an Excellence in Design for Greater
Efficiencies or EDGE certification.
Centennial year
As FEU approaches its 100th anniversary in
2028, its pursuit for sustainability remains in the agenda of its five-year
aspiration plan.
Currently, the university is powered by 25%
renewable energy, with a goal to reach
50% by 2028, inclusive of the solar energy projects to add 369 KW in the
Marikina and Silang campuses.
Expanding its program offerings to accommodate
the increasing demand for sustainability-related careers is also one of FEU’s
strategic targets in the next few years.
With these initiatives, FEU affirms its
commitment to help build a more livable and sustainable planet for the next
generation.
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