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 for 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. This project 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 to be equivalent to the sequestration of 17,074 mature trees.
Moreover, FEU boasts of having the first academic building in the country to receive an Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification.
Centennial year
As FEU approaches its 100th anniversary in 2028, its pursuit of sustainability remains on the agenda of its five-year aspiration plan.
Currently, FEU is powered by 25% renewable energy, with a goal to reach 50% by 2028, inclusive of the solar energy projects to add 369KW in the Marikina and Silang campuses.
Expanding its program offerings to accommodate the increasing demand for sustainability-related careers is also one of the university’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.