UCT Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 - Magazine - Page 5
Continuing the journey
towards a sustainable,
net zero campus
farms around the country. The tender was adjudicated in
early 2025 but would likely only see such renewable energy
being made available in late 2026 or early 2027. Renewable
energy wheeling is an important component of UCT’s
environmental sustainability and 昀椀nancial sustainability
strategy, as it will allow the university to purchase electricity
from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), that could save
the university millions of rands annually and tons of carbon
emissions per year.
UCT’s Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika (d-school Afrika)
Manfred Braune, Director:
Environmental Sustainability
achieved a 6-Star Green Star As Built rating from the Green
Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) The d-school Afrika
is the 昀椀rst academic building in South Africa to achieve this
prestigious rating for new buildings, having received a 6-Star
Green Star Design rating in 2023, which was another 昀椀rst in
The university continued its efforts in 2024 towards becoming
UCT experienced much lower levels of load shedding
the country. While no new buildings were built in 2024, there
more environmentally sustainable, aligned with its Vision 2030.
in 2024. Despite this, the university continued to work on
are several that are in their planning stages, all targeting
Guided by the Environmental Sustainability Strategy, this effort
some of its large back-up power projects such as installing
green building certi昀椀cation, including the Nelson Mandela
ultimately aims to shepherd the university towards becoming a
battery, generator and solar assets at the Faculty of Health
Memorial Centre & Public School of Governance on upper
net zero carbon, water and waste-to-land昀椀ll campus by 2050.
Sciences (FHS), for which a tender was awarded and
campus, the Arise Building on the health sciences campus,
While positive progress has been made in 2024, substantial
contractor appointed. This project will see the entire FHS
the refurbished Library and the Green Precinct Water
investments in sustainability initiatives will be required in the
campus backed up by one central battery system, that will
Recycling Facility which is targeting a 4-Star Green Star
next few years to meet these long terms goals.
also include a diesel generator and solar power to support
certi昀椀cation and several net zero ratings from the GBCSA.
UCT remains a leader amongst South African universities
the battery system.
UCT students won prizes in the top three places of both
in terms of public reporting on its carbon footprint, being only
The university continued with its solar PV rooftop installation
streams of the Greenovate competition (Engineering and
one of a handful of universities in the country to measure
project in 2024, which saw the installation nearing completion
Property & Construction Management), which is a wonderful
and report publicly on its annual carbon footprint. The
at the Baxter Theatre, the Graduate School of Business
demonstration of students leading with their honours research
most important 昀椀nding of the report is the 20% reduction in
(GSB) and the Meulenhof administration building, totalling
projects on the topic of sustainability.
greenhouse gas emissions under scope 1 and 2 compared to
close to 300kW.
The
vice-chancellor’s
Khusela
water, waste and more sustainable behaviours. The project
Ikamva
Sustainable
has also had a signi昀椀cant impact on two recently appointed
the 2019 baseline. Substantial further investment in various
In December 2024, UCT issued a tender that would see
Campus project continued to make positive progress in
new contractors for Integrated Waste Management and
initiatives over the next 15-to-20 years will be required for
the university wheel most of its energy supply for the main
2024, with constructive research collaborations continuing
for Integrated Pest Management – which is a 昀椀rst for any
UCT to meet its long-term carbon footprint objectives.
and health sciences campuses from wind and solar energy
with key operational staff on campus, focused on energy,
academic campus in the country.
10 - Sustainability and the SDGs 2024
Sustainability and the SDGs 2024 – 11
