Sakarya University integrates energy efficiency and carbon reduction into campus construction, building renewal, equipment replacement and daily operations. Its institutional approach combines compliance with applicable building standards, improvement of existing facilities, energy consumption reviews, greenhouse gas reporting and support for renewable electricity. The Department of Construction and Technical Affairs oversees the implementation of building and technical infrastructure improvements. The Social Contribution and Sustainability Coordinatorship (TOKAS) coordinates the monitoring of institutional sustainability performance and the preparation of sustainability reports, drawing on energy consumption, transport and waste data provided by the relevant university units.
The measures documented for 2025 support Türkiye’s Energy Efficiency 2030 Strategy and Second National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for 2024-2030, alongside Türkiye’s 2053 net-zero vision. Together, the measures address energy demand, electricity sourcing and the continued improvement of campus facilities.
Sakarya University has an institutional policy requiring all new construction and renovation works to comply with the applicable national energy efficiency standards. The policy covers campus planning, design, construction, renovation, maintenance and building operation, with the relevant technical requirements determined by the building and the scope of the work. The Department of Construction and Technical Affairs incorporates energy efficiency into architectural, mechanical and electrical works, including lighting, thermal performance, equipment selection and building controls.
The university’s Energy Policy provides the framework for building energy managers, regular consumption monitoring, annual energy reporting and evaluation of progress. The Department of Construction and Technical Affairs coordinates technical implementation, while building energy managers support consumption monitoring and efficient building operation. Annual reporting supports the review of energy use and the identification of improvement priorities. The policy also covers energy conservation education, renewable energy projects and on-campus generation, daylight-oriented design, natural ventilation, responsible procurement and cooperation with public institutions, local communities, industry and research organisations.
The principal regulatory framework is Türkiye’s Energy Efficiency Law No. 5627 and the Regulation on Energy Performance in Buildings, as amended. The regulation addresses the energy performance of new buildings and relevant works in existing buildings, including building design, heating and cooling, ventilation, lighting and energy performance certification. Its requirements are applied according to the relevant project dates, building characteristics and statutory transition provisions.
Thermal design and insulation works follow the applicable edition of TS 825, Thermal Insulation Requirements for Buildings, according to the project scope and relevant regulations. The updated standard took effect on 1 April 2025. Under the requirements applicable in 2025, new university buildings with a total construction area of 2,000 m² or more falling within the regulatory scope must meet the nearly zero-energy building requirements, including an energy performance class of B or better and at least 10% of primary energy demand supplied from renewable sources, subject to applicable exemptions and transitional provisions.
University construction and renewal practices prioritise LED lighting, effective use of daylight, natural ventilation where appropriate, thermal insulation improvements, efficient heating and cooling equipment, electrical sub-metering and sensor-based controls. Approximately 90% of campus buildings benefit from natural daylight, supporting reduced reliance on artificial lighting. Responsible procurement favours durable, low-consumption equipment, environmentally conscious materials, material reuse and local supplier considerations. Water-saving fixtures, efficient irrigation and landscaping complement these measures. Green building principles also address indoor environmental quality, water efficiency and responsible material use. The national Green Certification framework for Buildings and Settlements provides an additional reference for these principles.
Preliminary work towards an ISO 50001 Energy Management System supports the development of systematic energy reviews, performance monitoring and continuous improvement. The preparatory process provides a foundation for further development of the university’s energy management practices.
Sakarya University maintains an ongoing plan to upgrade existing buildings to higher energy efficiency through the progressive replacement of inefficient lighting and equipment, renewal of heating and cooling systems, insulation improvements and building control upgrades. The Department of Construction and Technical Affairs coordinates implementation through maintenance programmes, renovation projects and annual investment activities.
In 2025, the university upgraded campus facilities through coordinated renovation and maintenance works. These included heating and cooling system maintenance and renewal, improvements to electrical installations, and LED lighting upgrades. Roof works included local repairs and waterproofing at Esentepe Campus, replacement of roof panels at the Faculty of Theology conference hall, and insulation works around rooflights in several buildings. Lighting infrastructure along the campus ring road and pedestrian routes was also renewed.
Building improvements completed in 2024 included local roof insulation at the Faculty of Education (Hendek Campus), Congress Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medico Building, and window-surround insulation at the Library and M7 Building. These earlier interventions complement the 2025 programme described below.
Renewable energy and daylight efficiency applications at Sakarya University.
The 2025 Activity Presentation of the Department of Construction and Technical Affairs documents 1,600 LED installations across five facilities: 200 in the Faculty of Business, 400 in the Faculty of Political Sciences, 200 in the Morphology Building, 600 in the Conservatory and 200 in M5 Block. Heating and cooling improvements included annual boiler-room maintenance and conversion works, repairs and compressor replacements in variable refrigerant flow systems, and cooling-unit repairs.
Approximately 85% of campus lighting fixtures use energy-efficient LED technology. Automated lighting and building controls support efficient operation, while solar-powered LED lighting is used at selected campus streets, pedestrian routes and outdoor spaces. Equipment replacement practices prioritise energy-efficient refrigerators, cooling equipment, office devices and laboratory equipment to reduce operating and standby consumption.
Building upgrades also incorporate natural daylight, ventilation and renewable-energy applications. The Rectorate Building renovation combined structural strengthening with energy-efficient lighting, rooftop solar panels and improvements to natural daylight. These measures complement the university’s continuing maintenance and equipment renewal programme.
Sakarya University is expanding its renewable-energy infrastructure through an 863.46 kWp solar carport project under the Public and Municipal Renewable Energy Project (KAYEP), financed by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change’s General Directorate of Construction Affairs. The installation will comprise 1,476 photovoltaic panels, with projected annual electricity generation of approximately 1,106,999 kWh. The project is expected to increase on-site renewable electricity generation and reduce energy costs.
Further improvements prioritise inefficient equipment replacement, insulation and control upgrades, and continued monitoring of building performance. Preparatory work for ISO 50001 supports the development of energy performance indicators and the prioritisation of future efficiency investments.
Sakarya University implements a Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Programme that brings together energy efficiency, renewable electricity, sustainable mobility and resource management. Annual carbon footprint calculations and the review of energy, transport and waste information support the identification of improvement priorities and subsequent operational actions. These efforts support Sakarya University’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2053, in alignment with Türkiye’s national net-zero target.
The programme addresses direct emissions, emissions from purchased electricity and relevant indirect emissions through coordinated operational measures.
The process combines activity-data collection, emission calculation, review of results and implementation of reduction measures. Operational measures include LED replacement, heating and cooling system maintenance, on-site renewable electricity generation and zero-waste practices.
Sustainable mobility measures include electric-vehicle charging facilities, waived vehicle-entry permit fees for electric vehicles, bicycle and scooter options, permit-based campus access, digital entry monitoring and weekend access restrictions. Delivery lockers outside the campus reduce delivery-related traffic. Transport emissions are assessed according to vehicle ownership and the reporting boundary, with employee and student commuting considered separately from university-controlled vehicles.
For 2025, Sakarya University reported 1,679.62 tonnes CO₂e within the reporting boundary covering electricity consumption and transport by buses, cars and motorcycles.
Annual electricity consumption in 2025 was 9,138,596 kWh. The university documented 11,000 MWh of I-REC-certified renewable electricity, comprising 7,000 MWh from hydropower, 2,000 MWh from wind and 2,000 MWh from solar. Reported on-site generation was 200,000 kWh from solar installations and 7,600 kWh from the Energy Technologies Laboratory wind turbine. The documented renewable electricity contribution therefore totalled 11,207,600 kWh, equivalent to 122.64% of annual electricity consumption. This electricity-based indicator combines I-REC-certified renewable electricity and on-site renewable generation.
Sakarya University supports renewable electricity through on-campus solar and wind generation, I-REC-certified renewable electricity, applied research and continued investment in solar infrastructure. The planned KAYEP solar carport project is expected to expand on-site renewable generation capacity.
I-REC certificates document the renewable attributes of electricity, while on-site solar and wind installations generate electricity physically on campus. Both are reported separately, and the electricity-based indicator does not represent the share of renewable energy in heating or transport. International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC) documenting renewable electricity attributes from hydropower, wind and solar energy sources.
Figure: Sakarya University's International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC) documenting renewable electricity from hydropower, wind and solar energy sources.
The SAUCO2 platform is being developed to strengthen data collection and decision support. Integration into SABIS is planned to support the collection and analysis of electricity, natural gas and water consumption data, together with building-level carbon assessments. Once operational, the platform is expected to help identify energy-saving opportunities, monitor performance and inform emission reduction decisions.
Annual energy consumption reporting and carbon footprint calculations support monitoring and evaluation. Building energy managers monitor consumption and equipment performance. Preparatory ISO 50001 work and the development of SAUCO2 are intended to strengthen systematic reviews and corrective actions.
SAUCO2 interface - Energy and Resource Monitoring Dashboard. The interface is being developed to present faculty-level building information and electricity, natural gas and water consumption data.
SAUCO2 Interface - Carbon Footprint Analysis. The interface illustrates the planned calculation and visualisation of greenhouse gas emissions by Scope 1, 2 and 3 to support data-driven carbon management.
The university’s energy efficiency plan combines technical improvements with operational instructions and consumption monitoring. It prioritises reducing unnecessary electricity and heating demand while maintaining appropriate conditions for education, research and university services.
The plan operates within the national Public Buildings Energy Savings Target and Implementation framework. Presidential Circular No. 2023/15 establishes a minimum energy-saving target of 30% by 2030 for public buildings required to appoint an energy manager under Law No. 5627. This national target provides the reference framework for energy-saving measures in university buildings falling within its scope.
The university reinforces energy conservation through official instructions circulated to all university units. The documented instruction, signed by the Vice-Rector, requires university service buildings to maintain an indoor temperature of 21°C and exercise care in energy conservation. Building energy managers support implementation through regular consumption monitoring. These instructions complement equipment replacement, lighting controls, use of daylight and technical maintenance.
Energy conservation implementation is organised through four complementary institutional measures:
National Savings Plan: Presidential Circular No. 2023/15 and the Public Buildings Energy Savings Target framework establish a minimum 30% energy savings target by 2030 for qualifying public buildings.
Institutional Implementation: A Vice-Rector-signed instruction communicates the 21°C indoor temperature and energy conservation requirements to university units.
Management System: Preliminary work towards ISO 50001 aims to strengthen energy performance indicators and systematic reviews. The planned SAUCO2-SABIS integration will further support building-level monitoring and the identification of improvement opportunities.
Energy Management: Building energy managers monitor consumption and equipment operation; technical maintenance and annual reporting inform improvement priorities.
The plan’s implementation is reflected in the 2025 LED installations, the energy-efficient lighting inventory and heating and cooling maintenance activities. Preparatory work for ISO 50001 is intended to strengthen the definition of energy performance indicators, measurable objectives and improvement actions. Renewable electricity procurement and solar infrastructure development complement the university’s energy-saving measures.
Lighting: Approximately 85% of campus lighting fixtures use energy-efficient LED technology. The 2025 works added 1,600 LED units across five facilities; selected outdoor routes use solar-powered LED lighting.
Appliances: In 2025, 90% of durable goods consisted of energy-efficient equipment, including existing equipment labelled A+, A++ and A+++. Procurement and replacement practices prioritise durable, low-consumption models and reduced standby energy use.
Water efficiency: In 2025, the campus-wide usage rate of water-efficient devices reached 90.56%. Water-saving fixtures, including aerated faucets and flow restrictors, support responsible water use and resource conservation.
Sakarya University conducts energy reviews to identify areas where energy wastage is highest and prioritise corrective measures. The reviews draw on electricity and fuel consumption records, utility bills, available building-level monitoring and equipment maintenance information. The Department of Construction and Technical Affairs and building energy managers assess lighting, heating, cooling and equipment operation to identify avoidable consumption and determine improvement priorities.
The 2025 maintenance records document boiler-room maintenance, cooling-unit repairs and compressor replacements in variable refrigerant flow systems. Together with consumption records and equipment condition information, these records provide input for reviewing heating, cooling and lighting systems and identifying priorities for maintenance and replacement.
Findings from energy reviews inform maintenance, equipment replacement and operational improvements, alongside building upgrades such as insulation, LED lighting and sensor-based controls. Preparatory work for ISO 50001 and the planned SAUCO2-SABIS integration are intended to strengthen significant-energy-use analysis, building-level comparisons and the evaluation of corrective actions.
Sakarya University’s Sustainable Investment Policy incorporates environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations and prioritises renewable energy, clean technologies and other sustainability-oriented investment areas. This framework supports institutional sustainability objectives and lower-carbon development.
This policy direction is complemented by renewable electricity support, campus solar investments and research into clean-energy technologies. These activities support the university’s commitment to energy efficiency, renewable energy and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. Improvements to campus infrastructure, renewable electricity procurement and planned solar expansion contribute to this transition and support the university’s wider carbon reduction objectives.
Sakarya University supports the transition towards 100% renewable energy through campus applications, certified renewable-electricity procurement, research and university-industry partnerships. Research centres and the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit support renewable-energy studies, while interdisciplinary cooperation facilitates the development and public communication of clean-energy solutions.
The 2025 project portfolio includes Design and Prototype Production of a 100% Hydrogen-Fuelled Boiler, supported under TÜBİTAK TEYDEB 1505 in cooperation with Daikin. The project investigates heating technology capable of operating entirely with hydrogen. Other relevant projects address alternative pipe materials for geothermal energy infrastructure, floating photovoltaic systems, PEM electrolyser performance, smart-building energy management and solar-radiation forecasting. These activities strengthen the university’s clean-energy research capacity alongside campus operational measures.
Energy storage and battery circularity are further areas of research. Projects supported in 2025 include magnesium-sulfur battery development and printable high-energy-density supercapacitors using two-dimensional materials. The portfolio also covers solid electrolytes, AI-supported battery management and material recovery from waste batteries. Sakarya University is a partner in the Horizon Europe FREE4LIB project, which focuses on recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and recovering valuable materials, supporting circularity in energy storage technologies. Research outputs also include a patented active battery management technology, publicly reported in 2025, designed to extend battery life and improve energy-storage performance.
International research includes Horizon Europe FREE4LIB, an EU-funded battery-circularity project (2022-2026) with an overall budget of €9,283,175 and 22 partners from seven countries, including Sakarya University and NESSTEC. The work addresses sustainable recovery of critical materials from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries at targeted TRL 5-6.
In sustainable building technologies, the Erasmus+ PURSUE project, coordinated by Sakarya University, focuses on locally available environmentally sound construction materials, thermal insulation, professional training and laboratory capacity development with international partners.
Research supporting policy development includes the legal framework for electric vehicle charging stations, which aims to develop regulatory recommendations and share findings with relevant administrative bodies and the Turkish Competition Authority. The 2025 portfolio also includes innovative policy development for the automotive supplier industry’s adaptation to the European Green Deal, supported under TÜBİTAK 3005 and involving cooperation with OTOKAR. Research on renewable energy transition and incentive policies in Türkiye provides complementary analysis of investment incentives and barriers to renewable-energy adoption.
University-industry partnerships translate expertise into practical support. In 2025, Sakarya Teknokent became a solution partner under the TÜBİTAK 1831 Green Innovation Technology Mentorship programme. Through GREENMENT, businesses can access academic mentoring, current-state assessments, green-transition planning and training addressing energy efficiency, carbon management and sustainable production. These services connect university expertise with the needs of local and regional enterprises.
The GREENMENT mentoring model includes enterprise-level sustainability assessments, identification of improvement opportunities, green transformation plans and staff training. The published TÜBİTAK 1831 support covers 90% of eligible mentoring service costs, with the remaining contribution and applicable taxes paid by participating firms.
Under TÜBİTAK 1505, Sakarya University also cooperates with Daikin Türkiye on the 100% Hydrogen-Fuelled Boiler Design and Prototype Production project. Research partnerships include alternative fibre-reinforced composite pipes for geothermal energy lines. Through these initiatives, academic engineering expertise is connected with industrial development needs.
Earlier university-industry collaboration included the industrial furnace energy-efficiency prototype project, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Hakan Serhad Soyhan under the Royal Academy of Engineering Industry-Academia Partnership Programme, focusing on improved heat distribution and reduced energy demand in manufacturing.
Sakarya University supports clean-energy entrepreneurship through Sakarya Teknokent’s training, mentoring and investor engagement activities. During the 2025 G-FAST Entrepreneurship Accelerator programme, organised jointly with the Sakarya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SATSO), participating entrepreneurs received three months of training, individual mentoring and pitch preparation support, followed by opportunities to present their business ideas to investors and a jury. Agrigen, which develops portable hybrid and renewable-energy systems for agricultural land, completed this support process and received third prize at the final event. BATTAI, a student-led battery technology venture, placed third in G-FAST and reached the national final of an energy-sector entrepreneurship competition.
In 2025, Sakarya University organised discussions addressing the environmental impacts of production and consumption. The “Green Transformation in Industry” discussion, organised in cooperation with the Social Contribution and Sustainability Coordinatorship (TOKAS), brought academic and industry perspectives together to examine carbon emission reduction, responsible resource use and sustainable production.
The Sustainable Future Meetings, organised by TOKAS, addressed greenhouse gas emissions, excessive consumption, water scarcity, circularity and nature-based solutions. These activities complemented the university’s energy-related work through broader engagement with climate change and responsible resource use.
The university’s outreach and training activities included energy-saving education for primary school pupils, energy and water efficiency training for administrative staff, and technical visits for engineering students to ADASU Hydroelectric Power Plant and SEDAŞ facilities.
The TÜBİTAK-supported renewable-energy education project, conducted in cooperation with Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, provided schoolchildren with practical learning opportunities, including visits to renewable-energy facilities. European Mobility Week activities also promoted low-carbon travel through temporary restrictions on campus vehicle access.
The TÜBİTAK 3005 “Future’s Return” outreach project involved 40 gifted seventh- and eighth-grade students and visits to ADASU Hydroelectric Power Plant, Karaman Solar Power Plant and Pamukova Wind Power Plant. These previous educational activities are distinguished from the university’s 2025 outreach programme.
Complementary sustainability education is promoted by the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet SUSTAINEU project, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Bayrakçı. The project includes a university course on sustainable schools and plans seminars and workshops for teachers, school administrators, students, public-sector stakeholders and local communities. It is described as broader sustainability education rather than a dedicated renewable-energy training activity.
Research projects, publications, patents, educational activities and partnerships support the implementation of Sakarya University’s energy policy and contribute to clean-energy development beyond campus.
