IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i9p2599-d228587.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Inter-University Sustainability Benchmarking for Canadian Higher Education Institutions: Water, Energy, and Carbon Flows for Technical-Level Decision-Making

Author

Listed:
  • Abdulaziz Alghamdi

    (School of Engineering, University of British Columbia (Okanagan), 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada)

  • Husnain Haider

    (Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah, Qassim 52571, Saudi Arabia)

  • Kasun Hewage

    (School of Engineering, University of British Columbia (Okanagan), 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada)

  • Rehan Sadiq

    (School of Engineering, University of British Columbia (Okanagan), 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada)

Abstract

The education sector is one of the major contributors to the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada, i.e., 16% of total emissions among 11 sectors. Canadian higher education institutions (HEIs) consume around 60% of the total energy fed to the educational sector. Existing tools holistically cover a wide array of functions to assess the sustainability of HEIs. The infrastructure (engineered) systems are the pivotal units responsible for the majority of energy and water consumption and may have been built, retrofitted, or replaced at different times using different materials and technologies. Consequently, infrastructures have varying efficiency, designs, building envelopes, and environmental impacts. For technical-level decision making for improving the engineered systems, HEIs need to be benchmarked on the basis of their water, energy, and carbon flows. A methodology is developed for sustainability assessment of 34 Canadian HEIs that are classified into small, medium, and large sizes based on their number of full-time equivalent students (FTE). Energy, water consumption, number of students, and floor area is measured in different units and are, thus, normalized. The study revealed that the energy source was the primary factor affecting the sustainability performance of an institution. The analysis also revealed that small-sized institutions outperformed medium-to-large-sized institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdulaziz Alghamdi & Husnain Haider & Kasun Hewage & Rehan Sadiq, 2019. "Inter-University Sustainability Benchmarking for Canadian Higher Education Institutions: Water, Energy, and Carbon Flows for Technical-Level Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-26, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2599-:d:228587
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2599/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2599/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. van Calker, K.J. & Berentsen, P.B.M. & Romero, C. & Giesen, G.W.J. & Huirne, R.B.M., 2006. "Development and application of a multi-attribute sustainability function for Dutch dairy farming systems," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(4), pages 640-658, June.
    2. Altan, Hasim, 2010. "Energy efficiency interventions in UK higher education institutions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(12), pages 7722-7731, December.
    3. Omer, Abdeen Mustafa, 2008. "Energy, environment and sustainable development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(9), pages 2265-2300, December.
    4. Chung, William & Hui, Y.V. & Lam, Y. Miu, 2006. "Benchmarking the energy efficiency of commercial buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(1), pages 1-14, January.
    5. Ward, Ian & Ogbonna, Anthony & Altan, Hasim, 2008. "Sector review of UK higher education energy consumption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 2929-2939, August.
    6. Anne-Kathrin Faust & Andrea Baranzini, 2014. "The economic performance of Swiss drinking water utilities," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 383-397, June.
    7. Florian Findler & Norma Schönherr & Rodrigo Lozano & Barbara Stacherl, 2018. "Assessing the Impacts of Higher Education Institutions on Sustainable Development—An Analysis of Tools and Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhuyuan Xue & Hongbo Liu & Qinxiao Zhang & Jingxin Wang & Jilin Fan & Xia Zhou, 2019. "The Impact Assessment of Campus Buildings Based on a Life Cycle Assessment–Life Cycle Cost Integrated Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-24, December.
    2. Ali M. Al-Bahi & Mohamed S. Abd-Elwahed & Abdelfattah Y. Soliman, 2021. "Implementation of Sustainability Indicators in Engineering Education Using a Combined Balanced Scorecard and Quality Function Deployment Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-28, June.
    3. Amila Omazic & Bernd Markus Zunk, 2021. "Semi-Systematic Literature Review on Sustainability and Sustainable Development in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-45, July.
    4. Miguel Ángel Pardo & Ricardo Cobacho & Luis Bañón, 2020. "Standalone Photovoltaic Direct Pumping in Urban Water Pressurized Networks with Energy Storage in Tanks or Batteries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Denner Deda & Helena Gervásio & Margarida J. Quina, 2023. "Bibliometric Analysis and Benchmarking of Life Cycle Assessment of Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Abdulaziz Alghamdi & Guangji Hu & Husnain Haider & Kasun Hewage & Rehan Sadiq, 2020. "Benchmarking of Water, Energy, and Carbon Flows in Academic Buildings: A Fuzzy Clustering Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-25, May.
    7. Ligia Isabel Estrada-Vidal & María del Carmen Olmos-Gómez & Rafael López-Cordero & Francisca Ruiz-Garzón, 2020. "The Differences across Future Teachers Regarding Attitudes on Social Responsibility for Sustainable Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-19, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wadud, Zia & Royston, Sarah & Selby, Jan, 2019. "Modelling energy demand from higher education institutions: A case study of the UK," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 816-826.
    2. Lo, Kevin, 2013. "Energy conservation in China's higher educationinstitutions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 703-710.
    3. Anna Laura Pisello & Gloria Pignatta & Veronica Lucia Castaldo & Franco Cotana, 2014. "Experimental Analysis of Natural Gravel Covering as Cool Roofing and Cool Pavement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Anna Barwińska Małajowicz & Miroslava Knapková & Krzysztof Szczotka & Miriam Martinkovičová & Radosław Pyrek, 2022. "Energy Efficiency Policies in Poland and Slovakia in the Context of Individual Well-Being," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-29, December.
    5. Deng, Cheng-gang & Chen, Fei, 2021. "Model verification and photo-thermal conversion assessment of a novel facade embedded compound parabolic concentrator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    6. Toledo, Olga Moraes & Oliveira Filho, Delly & Diniz, Antônia Sônia Alves Cardoso, 2010. "Distributed photovoltaic generation and energy storage systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 506-511, January.
    7. Baležentis, Alvydas & Baležentis, Tomas & Streimikiene, Dalia, 2011. "The energy intensity in Lithuania during 1995–2009: A LMDI approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7322-7334.
    8. Gómez-Limón, José A. & Gutiérrez-Martín, Carlos & Riesgo, Laura, 2016. "Modeling at farm level: Positive Multi-Attribute Utility Programming," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 17-27.
    9. Zoltan Varga & Ervin Racz, 2022. "Machine Learning Analysis on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell—Thermoelectric Generator Hybrid System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-18, October.
    10. Murshed, Muntasir, 2019. "Trade Liberalization Policies and Renewable Energy Transition in Low and Middle-Income Countries? An Instrumental Variable Approach," MPRA Paper 97075, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Kumar, Yogesh & Ringenberg, Jordan & Depuru, Soma Shekara & Devabhaktuni, Vijay K. & Lee, Jin Woo & Nikolaidis, Efstratios & Andersen, Brett & Afjeh, Abdollah, 2016. "Wind energy: Trends and enabling technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 209-224.
    12. Andrea Pianella & Lu Aye & Zhengdong Chen & Nicholas S. G. Williams, 2017. "Substrate Depth, Vegetation and Irrigation Affect Green Roof Thermal Performance in a Mediterranean Type Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    13. Ming-Ta Tu & Li-Shiue Gau & Ji-Hwan Park & Wen-Shin Huang & Pham Thuy Duong & Jong-Chae Kim, 2022. "Smart and Sustainable Management of Shoe Machinery Companies in Taiwan during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Case Studies of the Tung Sheng Company and Strong Basic Enterprise Limited Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-11, August.
    14. Hepbasli, Arif & Alsuhaibani, Zeyad, 2011. "Exergetic and exergoeconomic aspects of wind energy systems in achieving sustainable development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 2810-2825, August.
    15. Streimikiene, Dalia & Alisauskaite-Seskiene, Ilona, 2014. "External costs of electricity generation options in Lithuania," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 215-224.
    16. Suberu, Mohammed Yekini & Mustafa, Mohd Wazir & Bashir, Nouruddeen & Muhamad, Nor Asiah & Mokhtar, Ahmad Safawi, 2013. "Power sector renewable energy integration for expanding access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 630-642.
    17. Duan, Wenqi & Khurshid, Adnan & Nazir, Naila & Khan, Khalid & Calin, Adrian Cantemir, 2022. "From gray to green: Energy crises and the role of CPEC," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 188-207.
    18. Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco & Montoya, Francisco G. & Sabio-Ortega, Andrés & García-Cruz, Amós, 2015. "Review of bioclimatic architecture strategies for achieving thermal comfort," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 736-755.
    19. Ruparathna, Rajeev & Hewage, Kasun & Sadiq, Rehan, 2016. "Improving the energy efficiency of the existing building stock: A critical review of commercial and institutional buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1032-1045.
    20. Antonio Attanasio & Marco Savino Piscitelli & Silvia Chiusano & Alfonso Capozzoli & Tania Cerquitelli, 2019. "Towards an Automated, Fast and Interpretable Estimation Model of Heating Energy Demand: A Data-Driven Approach Exploiting Building Energy Certificates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-25, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2599-:d:228587. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.