Finalist

Green University of the Year Award

Riga Technical University

Finalist of the Green University of the Year Award

Riga Technical University - Latvia

"RTU Student Campus – a Green City within a City"


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Summary

Riga Technical University (RTU) integrates sustainability and environmental protection at different levels by involving internal and external stakeholders in their implementation. Being a green university means including this goal in the university strategy, making it a priority, and acting on it. The core values of our university reflect the importance of being a green university. Sustainable development is one of the central values of RTU, which implies the balance of ecological, social and economic development using available resources.
RTU is the first higher education institution in Latvia that began constructing a student campus in Riga in Ķīpsala Island already in 1965. In 2018, RTU introduced the university’s Green Campus concept 2018-2023. RTU is committed to reducing the human impact on the environment and mitigating climate change by implementing the concept of Green Ķīpsala Campus by 2023. It is accomplished through sustainable resource management, raising the awareness of RTU employees and students about environmental issues, and promoting the development and use of environmentally friendly technologies and initiatives.
We continue from this point – having received the status of Green Campus, RTU has more ambitious plans – to become an energy-efficient campus with zero emissions by the year 2035.
RTU principles of the Green Campus have been considered in the development of the study and research infrastructure of RTU by constructing and reconstructing buildings, furnishing and equipping them. Over the past five years (2019-2022), RTU invested approximately EUR 30 million in the renovation and construction of university buildings that comply with the requirements of energy efficiency standards.

Key People


Tālis Juhna
Rector
Riga Technical University



Artūrs Zeps
Vice-Rector for Strategic Development
Riga Technical University



Juris Iljins
Director of Administration
Riga Technical University



Aija Medne
Head of the Department
Quality Management and Sustainability Department,  Riga Technical University



Paula Jurģe
Expert in Sustainability Issues
Quality Management and Sustainability Department,  Riga Technical University



Gatis Bažbauers
Acting Vice-Rector for Research
Riga Technical University


Acknowledgements

A lot of effort is invested in making RTU Campus autonomous and energy-independent, a dedicated working group that studies these issues has been established. RTU has joined the UN Race to Zero alliance in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2035.

Images

Climate-neutral city hackathon organized by RTU Science and Innovation Center

The experimental asphalt concrete pavement developed by RTU, which is produced from used car tires

In order to commemorate the 160th Anniversary of RTU, RTU students and management planted 160 trees on the campus

RTU campus

There are 26 electric vehicle charging stations at RTU Campus

RTU Campus from above

IMPACT STORY

Impacting lifes

RTU has been thinking green, doing research green, studying green, collaborating with the industry green... We are obsessed with green thinking! We are looking for the ways to make water purification granules from coffee grounds, we are seeking new technologies for producing biofuel from waste, and keep making many other green innovations.
RTU scientists have developed and are now refining the technology for the manufacturing of bitumen and asphalt concrete from used car tires. To improve production and operational characteristics of asphalt concrete, the second experimental road section has already been built in cooperation with the industry representatives.
Combining competences with the researchers from RTU, a new “recipe” for modifying bitumen and asphalt concrete with a hybrid composite material made of rubber granules and a polymer was developed. Both input materials are obtained from waste. RTU cooperates with researchers and enterprises from Lithuania and the USA. The Latvian Academy of Sciences recognized the contribution of RTU scientists as one of the most significant scientific achievements of 2021.
This is one of the projects that has gained great recognition in Latvia, as it allows solving two significant environmental problems at a time – in an eco-friendly way to dispose of car tires, the number of which is growing every year, and to strengthen the road surface of the Latvian road network, which is essential in the climatic conditions of Latvia. Moreover, this project can be mentioned as a step toward creating and strengthening the circular economy in the Baltic Region.

LEARNINGS

Lessons learned

We understand that sustainable development of our university and our Green Ķīpsala Campus is a continuous process. Step by step, by systematically evaluating the current achievements and listening to the opinions of students, cooperation partners, and employees, we are creating a modern environment for studies, research, and cooperation. A strong team spirit and a common understanding of the short and long-term objectives in the field of sustainable development are an essential prerequisite for implementing RTU vision – being an internationally competitive, dynamic, and modern university of science and technology.
RTU has identified three main areas – energy consumption, waste management, and transport – that can be further improved to more efficiently reduce the ecological footprint of RTU. This can be done by continuously improving our student campus infrastructure, changing the habits of the students and employees, and using innovative green products and technologies created by RTU researchers in the infrastructure of the Green Ķīpsala Campus.
Openness to innovative ideas, smart change, and rational use of resources allow our university not only to increase the satisfaction of students, employees, partners, and other stakeholders but also to promote the quality of existing products and services.

FUTURE PLANS

What's coming?

Since the RTU Green Campus concept will be implemented in 2023, we are currently working on expanding the concept, including climate neutrality as an essential precondition for the university’s sustainability. The principles of Green Campus will evolve and introduce new horizons for promoting sustainability at our university. RTU management has made an ambitious strategic decision to achieve climate neutrality, or carbon neutrality, by 2030. This will include, for example, the complete abandonment of fossil fuel cars, the purchase of green energy from renewable sources, increased energy efficiency, and improvement of smart lighting systems. We are developing our Infrastructure and Development Plan 2023-2027 including climate neutrality and environmental protection as our priorities. It is planned to look for solutions in the near future to ensure the transition to more environmentally and financially friendly energy/heat production options. It is also planned to place more solar panels on the campus within the next two years to source green energy.
Development of green innovation is another crucial aspect of sustainability at our university. The innovations of RTU researchers already play an important role in the concept of Green Ķīpsala Campus – they are tested in Ķīpsala, thus promoting sustainable management of the campus. We are planning to continue to encourage our students and employees to get involved in innovation and sustainability activities.

KEY STATISTICS

55th place

In UI GreenMetric Ranking 2022

43%

Of the respondents consider RTU an environmentally responsible and green-minded university (Latvian public survey conducted in 2023)

EUR 30 million

Investment in the renovation and construction of university buildings that comply with the requirements of energy efficiency standards

35.9 %

Of RTU research publications (2017-2022) contribute to the UN SDGs

52 % decrease

The overall water consumption per one person at Kipsala Campus has decreased from 9.2 m3 to 4.8 m3 in the last five years

18 years

RTU Institute of Energy Systems and Environment organizes free Environmental Engineering courses for the stakeholders

26

Electric vehicle charging stations at RTU Campus

Triple E Awards

The Triple E Awards are a global recognition of efforts toward the quest for entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education. It is the first award to focus specifically on different dimensions of the universities' third mission. Implemented regionally, the Triple E Awards aim to foster change in universities and to emphasize their role in their communities and ecosystems.

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