Energy efficiency and circular economy

 Objective: Sustainable institutional development based on the rational use of resources, with the aim of reducing the ecological footprint of UAIC and its academic community.

 Directions of action:

• adopting measures for transitioning the university campus toward a climate-neutral environment, aimed at reducing the carbon footprint (e.g., installation of photovoltaic panels, setting up charging points for electric vehicles within the campus);
• rehabilitating campus infrastructure for energy efficiency (e.g., thermal rehabilitation of buildings, upgrading heating systems and converting them to energy-efficient systems, etc.);
• improving energy efficiency by reducing consumption of electricity, water, and fossil fuels through the replacement and repair of inefficient equipment and installations;
• reducing the consumption of office supplies (e.g., paper) through the progressive digitalization of university activities;
• reducing the use of environmentally unfriendly packaging (e.g., plastic, glass) within university food service structures (canteens, cafés, vending machines, etc.);
• prioritizing the procurement of products, materials, equipment, and labor compliant with sustainability principles;
• organizing training courses for academic, research, administrative, and technical staff, as well as students, regarding efficient resource use within the campus;
• introducing a system for annual monitoring and evaluation of institutional progress in efficient resource use and energy efficiency within the UAIC campus.

 Objective: Transforming the university campus into a sustainable and healthy ecosystem for members of the UAIC academic community.

 Directions of action:

• increasing the share of green spaces within the campus through specialized landscaping and projects adapted to local bio-pedo-geographical conditions;
• developing green walls and green roofs through the planting of ecologically adapted species;
• reusing biomass obtained from green space maintenance to produce compost for fertilizing campus land;
• implementing measures to reduce waste production and ensuring selective waste collection according to circular economy principles;
• organizing training courses for academic, research, administrative, technical staff, and students on reducing waste production and the importance of selective collection with the purpose of maintaining a “green” campus and protecting nature in general;
• introducing an annual monitoring and evaluation system of the institutional progress made in the development of a “green” campus.

 Objective: Developing a sustainable mobility ecosystem that encourages alternative transport, pedestrian mobility, and reduced use of motor vehicles within the UAIC campus.

 Directions of action:

• increasing pedestrian areas and reducing areas used for vehicle access and parking;
• encouraging the use of alternative means of transport towards/from/within the University campus by the members of the academic community (public transport, electric vehicles, bicycles, walking);
• developing programs in partnership with local authorities on urban mobility;
• encouraging cycling by creating dedicated parking spaces;
• introducing an annual monitoring and evaluation system of the progress made towards an efficient green mobility transition within the UAIC academic community.