Property and campus
Image: Elin Berge
Image: Elin Berge
Umeå University’s activities are comprehensive and require suitable premises. Together with property owners, the university continuously develop these premises through innovative and climate-friendly solutions and sharing services to increase energy efficiency and utilisation.
Action plan for climate and sustainability contains the university's strategic goals and overall activities for the period 2021-2023. The results of follow-ups for the three targeted goals within the focus area of property and campus, are reported here.
Goal 8. Climate impact from energy use must reduce every year
Currently, Umeå University’s rented premises cover a total area of over 230,000 m2. In 2021, the university used more than 28 GWh of energy, which corresponds to the energy consumption of 1,120 homes. In order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, the university needs to, together with property owners, continuously take energy-saving measures and invest in energy efficiency.
As indicators for this goal, we have set "Number of consumed kWh in total, and number of kWh/m2". This is how we have been doing:
Goal 9. University premises must be used more efficiently
The use of our premises also needs to be optimized, since both constructing new and operating currently available premises give rise to negative environmental and climate impacts. Optimization can happen, for example, through increased sharing and utilization of our premises. By making sustainable and climate-friendly choices of technology and materials for building, the environment and climate impact can be further reduced, as can the use of resources.
Therefore, we have set the indicators "Average use of office premises" and "Average planned, in relation to actually used, classroom during weekdays" for this goal. Here's how we are doing:
Goal 10. Biodiversity on Campus Umeå must increase
The university’s main campus, Campus Umeå, consists of vast green spaces. By managing and developing these green spaces, they act as so-called carbon sinks binding the carbon dioxide from the air. Green spaces also promote biodiversity.
As an indicator for this goal, we have chosen "Implemented activities for biological diversity". Here's how we are doing:
The digital visualization of the Umeå campus will help us optimise the utilisation of our premises.
Campus Umeå is a pollinator friendly place that contributes to biodiversity.
In 2022, arboretum, as collaborative project between the university, SLU and Akademiska Hus, was inaugurated.
We have created walking trails around campus for walk-and-talk meetings.
7 – Affordable and clean energy
11 – Sustainable cities and communities
13 – Climate action
15 – Life on land