Programs for Local Community to Learn About Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy

Programs for Local Community to Learn About Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy

Sakarya University provides comprehensive programs for the local community to promote awareness of energy efficiency and clean energy. These programs are implemented through the Social Contribution and Sustainability Coordinatorship (TOKAS) and align with the university’s Sustainable University Policy and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

Key initiatives include:

• Energy Efficiency Week: Training sessions were delivered to students of Sakarya University Foundation Primary School to raise awareness about energy saving.
• “Future’s Return” Project (TÜBİTAK 3005 Program): Forty gifted students in the 7th and 8th grades were introduced to clean energy technologies through technical visits to ADASU Hydroelectric Power Plant, Karaman Solar Power Plant, and Pamukova Wind Power Plant.
• Sustainable Future Meetings: Public lectures titled “Sustainable Energy and Climate Change” and “What Happens If We Do Not Adapt to Climate Changes?” addressed renewable energy use, climate change mitigation, and adaptation strategies.
• European Mobility Week: The campus was closed to vehicle traffic to encourage sustainable transport and raise awareness about reducing carbon footprints. The 2023 theme was “Save Energy for the Future.”
• Zero Waste Program: Student competitions were organized to encourage recycling and waste reduction, promoting environmental responsibility and resource conservation.

For staff and local institutions, the university organized Public Savings Training programs on “Energy Efficiency in Daily Life and Public Buildings,” “Water Efficiency,” and “Environment and Zero Waste,” with corresponding online modules for all employees.

Sakarya University also collaborates with local industries and municipalities to extend the impact of these programs. It partnered with SEDAŞ (Sakarya Electricity Distribution Inc.) and SASKİ (Sakarya Water and Sewerage Administration) for technical visits and energy training sessions and contributed academically to the preparation of the Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Sustainable Energy Action Plan, which promotes energy-efficient practices across the city.

Through these coordinated educational, industrial, and community-based activities, Sakarya University demonstrates its commitment to empowering the local community with knowledge and practical understanding of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable living practices.

Raising Awareness

Raising awareness about energy efficiency and clean energy is among the university's primary responsibilities towards both its internal stakeholders and the community.

Local Community (Younger Generations and the Public):

• Energy Efficiency Week: Sakarya University Social Contribution and Sustainability Coordinatorship (TOKAS) provided training on energy savings to students at the Sakarya University Foundation Primary School.
• "Future's Return" Project: Within the scope of the TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye) 3005 program, 40 gifted students in the 7th and 8th grades were introduced to clean energy technologies on-site through technical trips to the ADASU Hydroelectric Power Plant (HES), Karaman Solar Power Plant (GES), and Pamukova Wind Power Plant (RES) in Sakarya.

Local Community (Staff):

• Public Savings Training: In-service training sessions titled "Energy Efficiency in Daily Life and Public Buildings," "Water Efficiency in Daily Life," and "Environment and Zero Waste" were provided to the university's administrative staff. Additionally, relevant training modules have been defined in the online system to allow all staff to watch courses on the same subjects.

Future Engineers (University Students):

SASKİ & ADASU HES Visit: Sakarya University Electrical and Electronics Engineering students conducted a technical trip to the ADASU HES, which is operated by SASKİ (Sakarya Water and Sewerage Administration) and is the first HES in Türkiye built by a local government. The students inspected the facility, which generates 45 million kWh of electricity annually.

SEDAŞ Technical Visit: Faculty of Engineering students organized a technical visit to SEDAŞ (Sakarya Electricity Distribution Inc.) facilities to examine the energy distribution infrastructure, grid operations, and technology investments on-site.

Academic Promotion and Awareness: The Dean of Research has encouraged academics to participate in clean energy projects by disseminating announcements for international events such as the European Sustainable Energy Week 2024, the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CET Partnership), and Tech4SmartCities.

Energy Conservation

The university implements a plan with measurable targets, integrated with national policies, to ensure energy conservation.

• National Savings Plan: The university operates within the framework of the "Savings Target and Implementation Guide for Public Buildings (2024–2030)," based on the Energy Efficiency Law No. 5627 and the Presidential Circular. This guide mandates a minimum energy savings target of 30% by 2030 for public buildings required to appoint an energy manager.
• Institutional Implementation: To implement this target, an official letter (signed by the Vice-Rector) is sent to all university units, mandating sensitivity to energy conservation and maintaining indoor temperatures at 21°C.
• Management System: To systematically improve energy performance, pre-assessment activities for the implementation of the ISO 50001 Energy Management System have been initiated via the SAUCO2 (Sustainable Carbon Tracking System) platform.
• Energy Management: Building energy managers are appointed to promote energy savings, and these managers regularly monitor energy consumption.

Collaboration

The university actively collaborates with local, national, and international stakeholders on sustainable energy projects.

• Local/Regional: Faculty members have supported regional strategy development by directly contributing to the preparation of the Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality's Sustainable Energy Action Plan. Furthermore, joint technical training sessions for students are organized with local infrastructure providers like SASKİ and SEDAŞ.
• National (Industry Collaboration): The university conducts active R&D collaborations with national industrial organizations. The best example of this is the "100% Hydrogen-Fueled Boiler Design and Prototype Production" project, carried out in partnership with the Daikin Türkiye R&D department under the TÜBİTAK TEYDEB (Technology and Innovation Support Programs Directorate) 1505 University-Industry Cooperation Support Program. This initiative, led by Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Pehlivan, aims to develop a sustainable heating technology in the field of clean energy (hydrogen).
• National (Academic Collaboration): Furthermore, a national-level academic collaboration was established with Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa for the "Future's Transformation: Gifted Students and Renewable Energy" project, conducted under the TÜBİTAK 3005 program.

International: Prof. Dr. Hakan Serhad Soyhan was selected to represent Türkiye on the management committee of COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action CYPHER, which conducts European-wide research on green and sustainable energy production and fire safety.

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