Recent years have witnessed a worsening of global warming due to increasing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, frequently causing extreme weather events in different parts of the world and consequently inflicting serious impacts on human activities and ecology.
It is our responsibility to build a low-carbon, recycling-oriented, sustainable society so as to be able to pass on a healthy environment to future generations.
In October 2019, the Renewable Energy 100 Declaration RE Action was established by the Renewable Energy 100 Declaration RE Action Council as a new framework in which participating companies, local governments, educational institutions, medical institutions, and other entities demonstrate their determination and action to convert their electricity consumption to 100% renewable energy, promoting 100% use of renewable energy. Supporting this framework as its ambassadors, the Ministry of the Environment and Kyoto City, among other ambassadors, have since worked to expand its circle of action.。
Ryukoku University established a Basic Eco-friendly Campus Policy in FY2010 and since then has been pushing forward with energy saving and other similar initiatives. As part of such initiatives, in FY2016, the University embarked on an effort aimed at reducing energy consumption in crude oil equivalent (basic unit) and CO2 emissions equivalent (basic unit) per one square meter floor area of a building by 4% or more in FY2019 compared to the FY2015 level. In addition, the University’s constituents have worked on fostering an awareness of environmental concerns by such means as holding eco-promotion events through collaboration between Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Starbucks Coffee Japan, and our students, and participating in the Kyoto Prefecture-hosted Environmental Festivals.
In FY2021, Ryukoku University joined the University Coalition for Carbon Neutrality, which was launched mainly by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of the Environment in the quest to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We will continue to pursue our various eco-friendly initiatives while strengthening our cooperation with national and local governments, the private sector, and other universities both at home and abroad through our education, research, and social engagement activities.
Upholding harmonious coexistence with society as its principle in every action, Ryukoku University has performed education and research activities, and in this respect, addressing environmental issues as increasingly demanded by society is a priority theme for us. Based on this recognition, the University defined its Basic Eco-friendly Campus Policy as described below, ensuring that all its constituents will actively strive with one accord to achieve the Policy.
Ryukoku University will foster an awareness of environmental issues among all its students, faculty, and staff, thereby aiming to create a campus where everyone strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental burdens based on the basic policy (medium- to long-term targets) specified below.
Ryukoku University aims to:
Based on the foregoing basic policy (medium- to long-term targets), Ryukoku University has defined the following four items as its short-term targets and will promote daily energy saving and resource saving activities by all its constituents.
The activities toward achieving these targets will be reviewed yearly by the Committee for the Promotion of Measures against Global Warming.
Ryukoku University aims to:
As described below, Ryukoku University launched Ryukoku Ecology 2021, a set of specific initiatives performed in FY2021 on each campus of the University in pursuit of achieving an eco-friendly campus. During the period the initiatives are in place, the University’s constituents are expected to improve their awareness of global warming prevention and be thoroughly informed of the details of the initiatives.
Ryukoku University analyzes energy consumption data obtained through BEMS, an energy management system installed on its premises, examines the possibility of reducing its energy consumption and effective methods thereof, and takes positive action, such as changing air-conditioning settings.
Ryukoku University systematically replaces old, low-energy-efficient facilities and equipment.
1)Fukakusa Campus
i) Replacement of the multi-split air conditioner in the server room in Building 5
ii) LED lighting conversion work in Building 8
iii) Heat source equipment replacement work in the President’s Office in Shieikan
iv) Packaged air conditioner replacement work in Building 11 (Shiyokan)
2)Omiya Campus
No applicable work is scheduled for FY2021.
3) Seta Campus
i) Multi-split air conditioner replacement work (Building 5, REC, Seishikan, Seiunkan, HRC, Building 7)
ii) LED lighting conversion work in restrooms in Seishikan
iii) Heat source equipment replacement work in Seiunkan
Eco-Promotion Staff assigned to each department since FY2015 will remain on site to act as a contact point with the supervising unit (Administration Section, Seta Administration Office, or Educational Affairs Section of the Faculty of Letters) and as a person responsible for confirming the execution of activities. Identifying persons with these two functions will enable planned activities to be implemented more properly.
Eco-Promotion Staff will regularly receive email news (Eco-Promotion Staff Newsletter) so that the progress of the University’s measures to cope with global warming will be shared with them.
(i) Reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions
The supervising unit regularly provides Eco-Promotion Staff with data on the University’s energy consumption and CO2 emissions, thereby sharing with them where the University stands and its reduction targets. Eco-Promotion Staff are then expected to ensure that the respective departments execute energy saving activities as required.
(e.g., adjusting the room temperature to the appropriate level, turning off unnecessary lights and reducing lighting to partial lighting, reducing standby power consumption of OA equipment, and effectively using power saving mode)
(ii) Reduction of paper consumption
Data on the number of prints/copies made obtained from the counter in a Xerox multifunction printer that each department uses are regularly made available. Eco-Promotion Staff are expected to share this counter reading within the respective departments, thereby calling people’s attention to the print volume they have produced and implementing measures for reducing paper consumption in a bid to achieve good results.
(e.g., paperless meetings using Microsoft Teams and other similar tools; use of a projector during meetings; shift to electronic meeting materials, circulars, and other documents, and shift to shared files; and use of the duplex printing and aggregate printing functions when printing documents)
Waste reduction and recycling promotion
Eco-Promotion Staff are expected to install waste bins for recycling in the respective departments, check whether waste is properly separated, and correct any inappropriate practices.
Purchase of eco-friendly products (green purchasing)
Eco-Promotion Staff are expected to ensure that in purchasing consumable and other supplies, the respective departments choose recycled products, products with an Eco Mark, or other products with the lowest possible environmental burden.
○For each office: Administration Section (Fukakusa), Educational Affairs Section of the Faculty of Letters (Omiya), Seta Administration Office (Seta)
* At each department, Eco-Promotion Staff play a leading role in ensuring the implementation of activities.
○For teachers: Educational Affairs Section at each faculty
○For students: Student Affairs Office
○For cooperatives on campus: On a campus to campus basis
[Administration Section (Fukakusa), Seta Administration Office (Seta), Educational Affairs Section of the Faculty of Letters (Omiya)]
○For the cleaning company, facilities management company, and other service providers: On a campus to campus basis
[Administration Section (Fukakusa), Seta Administration Office (Seta), Educational Affairs Section of the Faculty of Letters (Omiya)]
○For each office: Administration Section (Fukakusa), Educational Affairs Section of the Faculty of Letters (Omiya), Seta Administration Office (Seta)
* At each department, Eco-Promotion Staff play a leading role in ensuring the implementation of activities.
○For each teacher: Educational Affairs Section at each faculty
○For each office: Administration Section (Fukakusa), Educational Affairs Section of the Faculty of Letters (Omiya), Seta Administration Office (Seta)
* At each department, Eco-Promotion Staff play a leading role in ensuring the implementation of activities.
○For each teacher: Educational Affairs Section at each faculty
■The Administration Section and Seta Administration Office currently specify recycled products in purchasing the following items:
* This policy applies only to certain equipment since any damage or malfunction may not be supported by the vendor in the case of use of non-genuine products.
■Future initiatives
Kyoto Campuses: There will be more recycled products, products with an Eco Mark and other eco-friendly items on the List of Supplies for purchase applications. (Of 535 items, 249 items are currently eco-friendly.)
Green purchasing will also be encouraged in the case of selecting purchase items from sources other than the List of Supplies, such as the Kaunet Catalog. * To be encouraged through Eco-Promotion Staff Newsletter
Seta Campus: Green purchasing will also be encouraged in the case of selecting purchase items from sources other than the List of Supplies, such as the Kaunet Catalog. * To be encouraged through Eco-Promotion Staff Newsletter
○For each office: Administration Section (Fukakusa), Educational Affairs Section of the Faculty of Letters (Omiya), Seta Administration Office (Seta)
* At each department, Eco-Promotion Staff play a leading role in ensuring the implementation of activities.
○For each teacher: Educational Affairs Section at each faculty
The following data/initiatives of the University will be disclosed/introduced using its website:
In Building 3 on Fukakusa Campus (at the entrance hall), details of initiatives implemented under Ryukoku Ecology 2021 will be showcased on panels and actual examples (waste separation categories, etc.).
Also introduced will be the Ryukoku Solar Park with power generation results being made available using digital signage so that the University’s efforts for both saving and generating energy will be introduced.
The university will organize eco-promotion events and other similar events designed to create an even higher level of awareness of energy saving and resource saving among its students and other constituents.
The events will be conducted through collaboration with students, relevant departments in the University, and external organizations.
Based on its founding spirit and in order to contribute to creating a sustainable society, Ryukoku University actively addresses environmental issues with a concerted effort among all its constituents, thereby striving to reduce environmental burden.
In pursuing harmonization with the global environment, Ryukoku University promotes environmental impact reduction initiatives based on the following policies so as to reduce the environmental impacts of all its education, research, and social engagement activities.
In order to achieve the abovementioned policies, Ryukoku University sets targets, regularly reviews them, and promotes its environmental management activities.
Established on June 30, 2017
Takashi Irisawa, President
Ryukoku University