At the University of Yale the Office of Facilities plays an important role in achieving institutional goals in the areas of campus planning, building design and construction, energy management, water management, waste management, cleaning and maintenance (Yale University, 2016). The Sustainability Plan incorporates all departments to work as a team to achieve institutional sustainability The university has adopted policies and processes to protect the economy, environment and society (Yale University, 2016). Yale University has further adopted a number of principles to protect and preserve the environment (Yale University,
2016). The Office of Facilities has been very successful in managing the daily operations and maintenance (Yale University, 2016).
2.9.1.1 Energy Management
As energy resources are becoming scarce, one of the initiatives of Yale University is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions below 43% by 2020 (Yale university Office of Facilities, 2019).
The institution set its targets to reduce its energy usage and greenhouse emissions by 5%, using year 2013 as the baseline (Yale University, 2013). Research has shown that in 2016 greenhouse emissions were reduced by 8.7% and energy usage by 16.8%, which implies that the sustainable initiatives implemented are being managed well (Yale University, 2013). The sustainability initiative for renewable energy increased by 1.6%, which shows that the Office of Facilities has been proactive in the area of sustaining alternative energies due to the scarcity of energy resources (Yale University, 2013). Direct Digital Control Systems and the Central Metering System were implemented to control the management and the use of energy in buildings (Yale university Office of Facilities, 2019).
2.9.1.2 Water Management
The University of Yale tried to reduce its storm water by implementing regional plans to achieve sustainable goals, but this is still work in progress (Yale University, 2013). Even though the institution did not meet the goal to reduce water consumption by 5%, the water consumption was reduced by 0.5%, which implies that more research needs to be done in this area (Yale University, 2013). The university did, however, successfully implement water conservation projects to reduce the consumption, such as the installation of low-flow showerheads in residences and the gym area (Yale University, 2013).
2.9.1.3 Waste
The University of Yale’s Office of Facilities has recognized the importance of having a proper waste management system and has implemented strategies so that reused, recycled waste can be identified at the point of origin to the end (Yale University, 2013). It is important to have proper strategies to manage waste so that waste can be seen as a benefit rather than a waste (Yale Office of Sustainability, 2018). The Strategic Plan (2016) sustainability initiative on waste management was to reduce waste by 50% and make it a resource and benefit in the area of recycling, reusing and composting, and it was noted that waste was reduced by 63.1%; this implies that waste was being managed well (Yale University, 2013). The institution further
identified that more research needs to be done on waste management at a municipal level so that municipalities can implement correct waste procedures at an institutional level (Yale University, 2013). The institution has further adopted the LEED standards for the management of toxic waste so that the environment and society are protected (Yale University, 2013).
Some countries in the East, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Saudi Arabia, have become progressive and have identified that sustainability is important in an institution but more research needs to be done so that the sustainability initiatives can be managed well to achieve institutional success like the University of Marai (UiTM) in Malaysia.
2.9.2 University of Marai (UiTM)
2.9.2.1 Water Management /Energy Management/Waste Management
Research carried out at UiTM reveals that Facilities Management has implemented many sustainability initiatives in the management of energy, water and waste but more research needs to be done in these areas so that the current practices can be identified and evaluated to measure performance and, thus, further improve on the present sustainable approach (Saleh et al., 2011).
The findings also reveal that there was poor communication at all levels, especially communication with senior management, making it difficult for senior management to intervene when problems with the implementation of the policies and procedures occurred (Ishak, Mahayuddin and Mohamed, 2015, Saleh et al., 2011). Due to poor communication it was recommended to have an efficient management software system to manage the flow of information so that timeous decisions could be made with regards to operations, research and community outreach (Saleh et al., 2011). It is important for management to lead so that the departmental and institutional goals are achieved (Ishak et al., 2015, Saleh et al., 2011).
The research also shows that many people are not aware of the importance of sustainability and it was recommended that training and workshops are important to increase knowledge and awareness on the harmful effects on the economy, environment and society of improper practices survey reveals that more research is necessary in the area of energy and emissions in order that management may devise strategies over a five-year period to evaluate process and performance (Saleh et al., 2011). The buildings should be designed in a way that protects the environment with the intention of managing energy utilization in the most effective manner (Saleh et al., 2011). The Sustainability Plan on energy is to encourage greater efficiency in
buildings, offices and occupants by making use of natural lighting and ventilation to avoid the use of air conditioners, which is costly, in an effort to save energy (Saleh et al., 2011).
As can be seen, many international higher education institutions have tried to respond to sustainability by implementing sustainable initiatives in their daily operations, community outreach, curriculum and research in order to address the economic, social and environmental demands, while other higher education institutions are still lagging behind. The challenge lies within African higher education institutions.