Page 68 - Transformation Report

6. Sustainability and Resource Stewardship Culture and Practices Within the Institution

The University has developed a sustainability website (https://sustainability.mandela.ac.za/) which enables employees and
students to track the institutional performance as it relates to specific indicators.
6.1. Environmental sustainability
INFRUSTRUCTURE FUNDING RECEIVED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS 2018/19-2020/21 Environmental stewardship is one of our
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING values. Various environmental sustainability
interventions were implemented during the
course of 2018. In 2018, DHET allocated more
than R55 million over a three-year period for
environmental and social sustainability projects.
The projects for which this funding was allocated
are reflected in the infographic below. The
current overall utility bill of the University across
all campuses is nearly R44 million. The efficient
use of electricity, paper, and water, as well as
waste recycling interventions, are among the
concrete expressions the University contributes
toward the reduction in its carbon footprint
in support of its drive to “tread lightly on the
earth”. Annexure 4 provides an overview of the
University’s environmental impact in 2020.

6.1.1. Energy
Strategically, the University would like to
increase the usage of self-generated renewable
energy on its campuses. In terms of energy,
the objective is to decrease the current energy
usage, ultimately resulting in savings, through
demand management, the usage of renewable
energy sources, the greening of new buildings
and “green procurement.” The University is
adopting photovoltaic (PV) systems, owing to the ease of operation and maintenance, as well as in-house knowledge through
entities such as the Centre for Energy Research. Specific goals include the following:
• Renewable energy: To increase the utilisation of renewable energy to 30% of the University’s energy requirements
over the next six years.
• New buildings: To monitor the inclusion and consideration of maintainable, high performing “green” equipment
and fittings in all new buildings, with a focus on the achievement of the greatest gain on each project.
• Green procurement: To increase the procurement of environmentally friendly equipment and fittings over the next
three years.
• The University has constructed a Photovoltaic Installation to enable the South Campus to generate low cost,
renewable energy. Since starting operations in mid-2019, this 1-MegaWatt plant has been able to generate
more than ten percent of overall energy use on the South Campus. It is therefore a major contributor to the overall
request to increase the use of renewable energy to 30 per cent of the University’s energy requirements in the next
six years.

6.1.2. Water
In a water-scarce region such as the Eastern Cape, initiatives to promote water conservation are vital and several are being
implemented across the University’s campuses. A Water Risk Mitigation plan continues to be implemented in direct response
to the drought in Gqeberha and the Eastern Cape province, including the roll-out of a technology solution and water source
diversification. The strategic objective relating to water usage and management is to increase the usage of cheaper secondary

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