Energy Consumption Management

1. Executive Summary

Navoi State University (NSU) is dedicated to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy by transforming its campus into a model of sustainability and energy efficiency. Through this Strategic Plan (2026–2030), NSU aims to reduce energy consumption, expand renewable sources, and strengthen environmental awareness among staff and students. By 2030, NSU envisions a fully smart, energy-efficient campus driven by innovation and sustainability principles.

2. Context and Rationale

Uzbekistan’s National Renewable Energy Strategy 2030 emphasizes university roles in green transformation. NSU aligns with this by implementing renewable energy systems, LED lighting, solar boilers, and wind turbines. These initiatives reduce the university’s carbon footprint and promote clean energy research.

3. Vision, Mission, and Core Principles

Vision: To become a national leader in sustainable campus management and clean energy innovation.

Mission: To integrate renewable energy, efficient technology, and behavioral change into education and daily operations.

Core Principles:
– Innovation
– Affordability
– Inclusiveness
– Transparency
– Accountability

4. Strategic Goals and Objectives

Goal	Objectives	Target (2030)	Responsible Unit
Energy Efficiency	Upgrade to 100% LED lighting and motion sensors	–25% energy use	Facilities Department
Renewable Energy	Install solar panels and wind turbines	100% renewable share	Energy Management Office
Smart Energy Systems	Smart metering in all buildings	100% coverage	ICT Department
Sustainable Culture	Train students and staff on energy use	80% participation	Academic Affairs

5. Action Plan 2026–2030

The following phased actions guide implementation:
– 2026–2027: Expand renewable energy sources and LED systems
– 2028: Launch smart metering for all buildings
– 2029–2030: Integrate AI-powered monitoring dashboards
– Annual awareness campaigns for sustainable behavior

6. Awareness, Education, and Research

NSU promotes energy literacy through new elective courses, public campaigns, and student projects. The ‘Green Campus Week’ and ‘Energy Innovation Challenge’ will engage students and staff to propose practical sustainability ideas.

7. Partnerships and Collaboration

NSU collaborates with IT Park Uzbekistan, Chinese Academy of Renewable Energy Technologies, and Debrecen University (Hungary). These partnerships foster exchange in renewable energy research, green infrastructure, and student mobility.

8. Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

The Energy Management Office (EMO) oversees implementation, data collection, and reporting. KPIs include percentage reduction in energy use, renewable energy share, and awareness participation rate.

9. Financial Mechanisms and Investment Plan

Funding will derive from national grants, public-private partnerships, and sustainability funds. Annual budgets will prioritize renewable installations and maintenance of smart technologies.

10. Risk Management and Mitigation

Potential risks include budget delays, technical malfunctions, and policy shifts. Mitigation involves diversified funding, preventive maintenance, and stakeholder coordination.

11. Detailed Baseline Energy Assessment

Before implementing major interventions, Navoi State University conducted a baseline energy assessment covering electricity, heating, cooling, and equipment use across all academic buildings, laboratories, dormitories, sports facilities, and administrative units. The assessment used historical utility bills, on-site meter readings, and spot measurements using portable energy analyzers. This process established reference values for kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption per building, per student, and per square meter of floor area.

The analysis revealed that the main contributors to energy consumption are:
• Classroom and corridor lighting
• Computer laboratories and ICT equipment
• Heating and cooling systems
• Dormitory hot water supply
• Research laboratories with specialized equipment
Understanding these patterns allows the university to design targeted interventions with the highest impact and to prioritize investments where savings potential is greatest.

11.1 Electricity Consumption Profile

Electricity consumption at NSU shows clear peak periods during morning and early afternoon hours, particularly between 9:00 and 16:00, when teaching activities are at their highest. Evening peaks occur in dormitories due to lighting, device charging, and hot water demand. The baseline study identified several buildings with older wiring and inefficient fixtures, reinforcing the need to complete the transition to LED lighting and smart controls.

The plan sets progressive annual reduction targets for electricity use per capita. These targets are supported by technical upgrades, behavior change campaigns, and the gradual integration of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Smart meters will help visualize consumption trends and provide monthly feedback to building managers.

11.2 Heating and Hot Water Systems

Heating and hot water account for a substantial share of total energy use, especially during the winter season. Many facilities still rely on centralized gas boilers. The strategic plan therefore promotes the use of solar boilers and better insulation, including double-glazed windows and improved door seals. These measures not only reduce energy demand but also improve comfort in classrooms and dormitories.

Pilot projects with solar-assisted hot water systems will be expanded to cover more dormitories and laboratory buildings. In parallel, maintenance schedules for existing boilers will be optimized to ensure efficient combustion and minimize energy waste.

12. Implementation Roadmap (Year-by-Year)

The implementation roadmap translates strategic goals into concrete annual milestones. It provides a clear sequence of actions that enables coordinated work among faculties, administrative departments, and external partners.

2026: Establish the Energy Management Office (EMO), finalize detailed designs for solar installations, complete LED retrofits in priority buildings, and roll out the first campus-wide awareness campaign.

2027: Expand rooftop solar PV to additional buildings, introduce smart metering pilots, integrate energy topics into selected curricula, and start student-led monitoring projects.

2028: Scale up smart metering to cover most facilities, deploy an online energy dashboard, and organize the first international ‘Green Campus and Clean Energy’ conference hosted by NSU.

2029: Introduce AI-based analytics for anomaly detection in energy consumption, strengthen partnerships with industry, and launch innovation grants for student and staff projects related to SDG 7.

2030: Consolidate achievements, verify target completion, publish a comprehensive SDG 7 progress report, and revise strategic priorities for the next planning cycle.

13. Education and Curriculum Integration

Integrating SDG 7 into teaching and learning is essential to ensure long-term cultural change. Navoi State University will mainstream affordable and clean energy topics into various disciplines, including engineering, natural sciences, economics, management, and education. This approach helps students understand the technical, economic, and social dimensions of the energy transition.

The following actions will be prioritized:
• Development of new elective courses on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability management.
• Inclusion of SDG 7 case studies and local best practices in existing courses.
• Supervision of bachelor and master theses focused on clean energy solutions for the university and the region.
• Organization of interdisciplinary project-based learning, where teams design practical energy-saving solutions for specific campus buildings.

14. Student and Staff Engagement Programs

The success of the strategic plan depends on active engagement by students, academic staff, and administrative personnel. NSU will therefore design a structured series of engagement programs that encourage participation, recognize contributions, and create a sense of shared ownership over the campus environment.

Key engagement initiatives include:
• ‘Green Ambassadors’ program, where motivated students and staff serve as sustainability champions in their   faculties.
• Annual ‘Energy Saving Challenge’ with awards for the building or department achieving the highest reductions.
• Volunteer days for installing simple efficiency measures such as draught-proofing or labeling switches.
• Communication campaigns using social media, posters, and short videos to share tips and success stories.

15. Research and Innovation

As a higher education institution, NSU has a responsibility not only to manage its own energy use but also to generate new knowledge and technologies that benefit society. The strategic plan therefore supports the creation of an applied research agenda linked to SDG 7. Priority themes include:
• Optimization of solar and wind hybrid systems suited to local climatic conditions.
• Low-cost monitoring solutions for educational buildings.
• Behaviorally informed interventions to reduce unnecessary energy use.
• Integration of energy data into digital learning environments for teaching and experimentation.

The future AI laboratory planned at NSU will play a central role by developing algorithms for demand forecasting, real-time anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance of key energy infrastructure. These activities strengthen the link between SDG 7, SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

16. Governance, Policies, and Reporting

To ensure continuity and accountability, NSU will formalize its energy-related commitments through internal policies and governance structures. The Energy Management Office will report directly to the university leadership and coordinate with the sustainability committee, deans, and administrative directors.

Important governance and policy measures will include:
• Adoption of a written Energy and Sustainability Policy approved by the Academic Council.
• Integration of SDG 7 objectives into annual work plans of relevant departments.
• Establishment of clear procedures for approving new construction and renovation projects with energy criteria.
• Publication of an annual sustainability and energy performance report on the university website.

17. Key Performance Indicators (Expanded)

In addition to the core targets specified earlier, the following indicators will be monitored to evaluate progress:
• kWh of electricity consumed per student per year.
• Percentage of total floor area lit exclusively by LED fixtures.
• Number of buildings equipped with functioning smart meters.
• Installed capacity of solar PV (kW) and annual electricity generation (kWh).
• Number of academic courses explicitly addressing SDG 7.
• Number of research projects, theses, and publications related to clean energy.
• Participation rates in engagement programs and training sessions.

18. Annex 2 – Example Building Energy Audit Checklist

To support systematic monitoring of facilities, NSU will use a standardized building energy audit checklist. Key items include:
• Condition and type of lighting fixtures.
• Presence and functionality of motion sensors.
• Window and door insulation quality.
• Status of heating and cooling equipment.
• Availability and accuracy of meters.
• User behavior observations (lights left on, open windows during heating, etc.).

The checklist will be used by trained student volunteers and facility staff to conduct periodic inspections. Findings will feed into improvement plans and help prioritize maintenance tasks.

Month	Campaign Activity	Lead Unit
February	Orientation sessions on SDG 7 for first-year students	Academic Affairs, EMO
March	Campus-wide ‘Switch Off’ day and classroom competitions	Student Union, EMO
April	Green Campus Week with exhibitions and guest lectures	International Office, Faculties
September	Training for new staff on energy-efficient workplace habits	Human Resources, EMO
November	Energy Saving Challenge awards ceremony and feedback workshop	Rector’s Office, EMO

19. Conclusion

Through this plan, NSU affirms its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7. By embracing clean and affordable energy, NSU contributes to a greener, more sustainable future for Uzbekistan and beyond.

Key Targets (by 2030):
– 25% reduction in total energy consumption
– 40% of total electricity from renewable sources
– 100% of buildings equipped with smart meters
– 80% participation in sustainability programs