Programme Energy & Sustainability

At the UG, we are tasked with making our real estate considerably more sustainable. This stems from legal obligations, but also from our own sustainability ambitions. For instance, we have to reduce our energy consumption by 50% by 2050, and as UG we want to be CO2-neutral by 2035, generating 85% of all our energy ourselves. An enormous task. We have to get to work.

To achieve these goals, the Energy & Sustainability Programme was set up in March 2024. The programme works on the basis of four, strongly intertwined themes. A coordinator has been appointed for each theme.

New construction & renovation

This theme deals with sustainability targets for new construction and large-scale renovations. Newly built buildings and large-scale renovations will have to meet stricter sustainability requirements.

We identify the specific requirements to be met for new construction and/or renovation. The intention is that this will eventually be shared as a practical document to be used by architects, project managers and suppliers, so that they can easily incorporate these requirements into a project.

Energy saving

The term energy saving is simple: using less energy. For a number of years now, we as UG have had various legal obligations (and our own ambitions) to significantly reduce our energy consumption. This can be done in many different ways. Think of better insulation, LED lighting and smarter use of rooms and buildings.

Energy generation

By 2035, we want to generate 85% of all the energy we use at the UG ourselves. In what ways will we do that? And how can we use, distribute and store this energy? These are questions this theme focuses on.

Management & maintenance

UG buildings are under constant management and maintenance. Within this theme, we look at where sustainability can be improved in the management and maintenance of buildings. For instance, we ensure that all buildings are given an energy label and we map out what sustainability measures we can take to make the buildings more energy efficient. This concerns not only buildings but also, for example, biodiversity in site management.

Vision and policy

As a university, we aim to be carbon-neutral by 2035, with all energy used coming from fully renewable sources, with at least 85% of it generated by the university itself. To achieve this, the Vision & Policy on Energy and Sustainability was drawn up.