Low-Carbon Energy Use Policy

Policy Number	MU-POL-024	Version	1.0
Issue Date	January 2025	Review Date	January 2027
Policy Owner	University Administration	Scope	All Employees and Students

I. Purpose and Objectives

Midocean University is committed to promoting the use of low-carbon energy sources and improving energy efficiency across all its facilities, thereby contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the transition to sustainable energy, and advancing environmental sustainability objectives.

II. Scope

This Policy applies to:

All buildings and facilities on the University campus.
All academic and administrative departments.
Laboratories and educational and research facilities.
All University meetings, events, and activities.
All new construction projects, as well as maintenance and development works.
All faculty members, employees, and students, in addition to suppliers and contractors when providing services within the University.

III. Definitions

Low-Carbon Energy: Energy generated from sources or technologies that produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional energy sources. It includes renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, as well as technologies that improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
Energy Efficiency: The optimal use of energy to achieve the same level of performance or service while minimizing energy consumption.

IV. Core Policy Provisions

Encourage the use of low-carbon energy sources whenever feasible.
Improve energy efficiency across all University facilities.
Give priority to procuring appliances and equipment with high energy-efficiency ratings.
Expand the use of energy-efficient lighting systems and appliances.
Raise awareness among students, employees, and faculty members of the importance of energy conservation and reducing carbon emissions.
Support initiatives and projects that promote the use of clean energy and reduce the University’s carbon footprint.
Encourage the use of digital infrastructure hosted by service providers that adopt sustainable practices in operating their data centers.
Utilize cloud infrastructure to reduce the need for operating and maintaining energy-intensive on-premises servers.

V. Alignment with the Digital Learning Environment

Given the University’s reliance on an e-learning system, the following mechanisms shall be implemented:

Expand the use of virtual meetings and online lectures to reduce energy consumption associated with transportation and facility use.
Utilize digital systems to manage and operate facilities more efficiently.
Conduct online awareness campaigns on energy efficiency and the use of low-carbon energy.
Encourage daily practices that contribute to reducing electricity consumption across the University campus.

VI. Related Procedures

Monitor energy consumption on a regular basis and analyze opportunities for improving energy efficiency.
Implement electricity conservation measures across all University facilities.
Expand the use of energy-efficient technologies and equipment during upgrades or replacements.
Assess opportunities to utilize renewable energy sources whenever technically and economically feasible.
Prepare periodic reports on energy consumption and emission reduction initiatives.
Evaluate energy efficiency as a criterion when selecting hosting service providers or data centers.
Conduct periodic reviews of the digital infrastructure to ensure the optimal utilization of computing resources and minimize resource waste.
Encourage the use of energy-efficient laptop computers in place of desktop computers whenever feasible.
Enable power-saving modes on all University devices.
Configure automatic shutdown settings for screens and devices when not in use.
Reduce reliance on paper-based printing and expand the use of electronic signatures and digital documents, thereby contributing to reducing energy and resource consumption.

VII. Performance Indicators

Percentage reduction in electricity consumption compared with the previous year.
Percentage of appliances and equipment with high energy-efficiency ratings used by the University.
Percentage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from energy consumption.
Number of low-carbon energy initiatives or projects implemented annually.
Percentage improvement in energy consumption efficiency across university facilities.

VIII. Review and Updates

This Policy shall be reviewed annually, or as required, taking into consideration the results of the performance indicators, developments in low-carbon energy technologies, relevant legislation, and feedback received from the University’s departments and relevant stakeholders.