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Universities take care of the future of our planet!

Developing a nationwide pilot model for energy transformation in the operation of universities is the aim of an agreement signed on 10 October 2023 by representatives of the rectorial authorities of Lower Silesian and Opole public universities, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, the National Energy Conservation Agency and Bank Ochrony Środowiska.

The academic communities of the universities of Lower Silesia and Opole, as well as the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, the National Energy Conservation Agency and the Bank for Environmental Protection, have thus entered into cooperation, which will involve taking specific measures in the field of so-called zero-emissions and thus reducing the carbon footprint.

The agreement, signed at the University of Wrocław on Tuesday 10 October 2023, is the result of a number of working meetings and arrangements that have been ongoing since November 2022, when a letter of intent on cooperation between the universities of Lower Silesia and Opole was signed at the initiative of the University of Wrocław and the Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

We have been working on this agreement for almost a year. It is primarily a cooperation between universities and financial institutions for decisive zero-carbon measures – highlighted Artur Michalski, Vice-President of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. – The universities will work on the implementation of the energy transformation model, analyse possible improvements in buildings, select optimal energy-saving solutions, and estimate costs in order to be able to effectively apply for financing, e.g. for thermo-modernisation or renewable energy sources.

The agreement fits perfectly with the directions of climate and energy policy and responds to the challenges of the modern world and the regulations resulting from Poland’s membership of the European Union.

It is also a good example of cooperation which will bring results that would be difficult to achieve on its own – commented Wojciech Murdzek, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Government plenipotentiary for the operation of research institutes, who was present at the ceremony.

Public universities want to contribute not only to improving air quality through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but also to provide better working and educational conditions, support the increase in renewable energy and use energy more efficiently through, among other things, energy-efficient and intelligent buildings.

– We want to jointly develop a uniform model for the university’s energy transition – emphasised prof. Robert Olkiewicz, Rector of the University of Wrocław – This will allow us to reduce energy costs in the future.

– This model is intended to help the university raise funds for, among other things, restructuring the heating system or replacing light sources. – explained Damian Mroczyński, Deputy Director General for development and asset maintenance at the UWr. – The main aim is to introduce savings in energy consumption and thus reduce the carbon footprint,

The model developed, which is expected to be in place by July 2024, will enable universities to apply for funding for thermal modernisation projects in the process of reducing energy consumption.

The agreement concluded on 10 October 2023 was signed by representatives of the following entities:

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