University of Pretoria passionate about saving the environment
The university has recently erected solar panels on the roofs of the Merensky library and technical services buildings on the Hatfield campus, among other initiatives.
The University of Pretoria (UP) is doing more than its bit to protect the environment by switching to solar power and employing a variety of other eco-friendly technologies.
The university has recently erected solar panels on the roofs of the Merensky library and technical services buildings on the Hatfield campus.
“This helps reduce UP’s overall electricity consumption from the Tshwane municipality,” said facilities management director professor Susan Adendorff.
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“There are plans in the pipeline to extend the use of solar panels to other UP sites such as boukunde, natural sciences, Future Africa Development, engineering 4, the experimental farm, and the Onderstepoort animal hospital.”
As part of their initiatives, the university now also harvests rainwater and use several registered boreholes around their campuses for irrigation.
This helps reduce water consumption from municipal reservoirs.
Adendorff said the university uses sophisticated technologies to monitor its buildings’ consumption of electricity and water in real time.
“This helps minimise any loss due to leaks and faulty equipment. Being able to measure the electricity and water consumption per building also helps bring usage down. This is so even for the various student residences.”
The university is also strong on recycling as they have an e-waste recycling container at the Hatfield campus.
They also have a facility for recycling glass, paper and other waste.
As if that is not enough, they also produce their own compost and bark chips.
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This is done at the experimental farm, where all green waste is taken and processed into usable compost that’s then reintroduced to feed the surrounding flora.
UP has also introduced a tree-planting programme and has planted 1 735 trees since 2014.
But there’s even more: UP assists the surrounding community by embarking on clean-up projects of local streams that have been contaminated by pollutants that can harm local flora and fauna.
Adendorff said together with the department of university relations, an awareness campaign across all campuses would be launched soon to further reduce electricity and water consumption.
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