Atatürk University | SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy | Indicator 7.2.2
Atatürk University recognises the importance of improving the energy performance of its existing building stock as part of its broader commitment to environmental sustainability, efficient resource utilisation and sustainable campus development.
The University’s approach encompasses energy-efficient lighting, renewable energy applications, improvement of physical facilities and the assessment of further building-level energy efficiency opportunities. These activities provide a foundation for progressively improving energy performance across existing university facilities.
In 2025, institutional planning documents continued to identify energy efficiency applications, renewable energy initiatives and improvements to campus facilities as relevant areas of development.
1. Institutional Planning and Strategic Commitment
1.1. Energy Efficiency within the 2024–2028 Strategic Planning Framework
The University’s strategic planning framework provides an institutional basis for sustainable campus development.
A published 2024–2028 strategic planning document of Narman Vocational School, available through the University’s official website in 2025, identifies the improvement and development of campus life as a strategic objective.
Within this objective, the document includes:
- Implementation of a green and sustainable campus project.
- Improvement of physical facilities and technical infrastructure.
- Energy efficiency applications on campus.
- Renewable energy applications on campus.
Importantly, the plan specifies performance indicators relating to the number of energy efficiency applications, the number of renewable energy applications and the number of improved physical spaces and facilities.
These provisions demonstrate that energy efficiency and physical infrastructure improvement are incorporated into formal institutional planning at unit level.
Evidence: Narman Vocational School – 2024–2028 Strategic Plan
1.2. Institutional Monitoring and Annual Reporting
Atatürk University publishes annual institutional activity reports through its Strategy Development Department.
The 2025 Institutional Activity Report, published in 2026, provides an official source for reviewing university activities, institutional performance, resource management and infrastructure-related priorities during the reporting year.
These reports support transparency and provide a basis for monitoring the University’s progress towards its institutional objectives.
Evidence:
2025 Institutional Activity Report
Institutional Activity Reports Archive
2. Existing Energy Efficiency Initiatives and Technical Foundations
2.1. Energy-Efficient Lighting
Atatürk University has previously investigated the potential benefits of replacing conventional lighting systems with more energy-efficient technologies.
The study entitled “Feasibility Study of Atatürk University for LED Illumination” examined the feasibility of improving lighting efficiency.
This research provides a technical foundation for evaluating lighting modernisation opportunities in existing university facilities.
Potential measures include:
- Replacement of inefficient lighting fixtures with LED systems.
- Use of occupancy and motion sensors in appropriate spaces.
- Improved lighting schedules in corridors, classrooms and administrative buildings.
- Reduction of unnecessary electricity consumption.
The feasibility study supports the technical rationale for lighting upgrades. However, individual installations and their implementation dates should be documented separately.
Evidence: Feasibility Study of Atatürk University for LED Illumination
2.2. Renewable Energy Integration
The University has developed and supported projects demonstrating the potential of renewable energy technologies.
One example is the project entitled “Güneş Yeni Umutlarla Artık Daha Bir Başka Doğacak”, associated with the University’s Livestock Research and Application Centre.
The project documentation describes a proposed 50 kW solar photovoltaic installation, with an estimated annual generation capacity of approximately 80,000 kWh.
This initiative illustrates the potential for integrating renewable electricity generation into existing university facilities and reducing dependence on conventional electricity supplies.
The project’s proposed capacity and estimated generation should not be interpreted as verified electricity production in 2025 without operational records.
Evidence: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Solar Energy Project
2.3. Solar-Powered Lighting at Oltu Vocational School
The project “Yeşil Bir Gelecek İçin Yeşil Enerji (Güneş Enerjisi) Kullanımının Artırılması” addresses the use of solar energy for lighting at Oltu Vocational School.
The project provides an example of renewable energy use in the University’s wider physical infrastructure.
Although outdoor solar lighting is not equivalent to improving the thermal efficiency of an existing building, it contributes to the broader development of energy-efficient campus infrastructure.
Evidence: Social Responsibility Projects Centre – Green Energy Project
3. Technical Approaches for Upgrading Existing Buildings
Improving existing buildings requires measures addressing energy demand, equipment efficiency and operational management.
The following measures provide a proposed technical framework for developing a more detailed building retrofit programme. They are not presented as completed or formally approved university-wide investments.
3.1. Building Energy Assessments
An effective building improvement programme can begin with the assessment of existing energy consumption and building conditions.
Relevant assessment activities include:
- Reviewing electricity and heating consumption.
- Identifying buildings with relatively high energy demand.
- Examining heating, ventilation and lighting systems.
- Assessing building insulation and heat losses.
- Prioritising improvement opportunities according to energy-saving potential and investment requirements.
These assessments can inform future decisions about the sequencing and scope of building improvements.
3.2. Building Envelope Improvements
For existing buildings in Erzurum’s cold climate, building envelope performance is particularly important.
Potential improvement measures include:
- Upgrading roof and external wall insulation.
- Improving the thermal performance of windows and doors.
- Reducing uncontrolled air leakage.
- Addressing thermal bridges.
- Improving insulation around heating distribution systems.
The appropriate interventions would depend on building age, technical condition, architectural characteristics and available resources.
3.3. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Improvements
Further opportunities for reducing energy consumption include:
- Replacing inefficient heating and cooling equipment.
- Improving heating system controls.
- Introducing variable-speed pumps and fans where technically suitable.
- Optimising operating schedules.
- Evaluating heat recovery and demand-controlled ventilation.
- Improving preventive maintenance practices.
These measures can contribute to lower energy demand while maintaining suitable indoor environmental conditions.
3.4. Building Automation and Energy Monitoring
Building automation and monitoring technologies can support more efficient operation of existing facilities.
Potential applications include centralised monitoring of heating and lighting, occupancy-based controls, energy metering and the analysis of consumption trends.
The adoption of such technologies would enable more systematic identification of operational inefficiencies and provide data for assessing energy performance improvements.
4. Scientific Expertise Supporting Energy-Efficient Building Retrofits
Atatürk University also contributes to scientific research on the energy-efficient improvement of existing buildings.
In 2025, an academic study associated with the University examined an integrated approach to energy-efficient building retrofits using experimental design and multi-criteria decision-making.
The study evaluated alternatives involving building envelopes and energy systems through energy simulation, economic assessment and environmental performance analysis.
Its findings demonstrated how alternative retrofit scenarios can be compared using energy savings, carbon emissions, investment payback and cost-benefit indicators.
This research is relevant to the University’s technical capacity to evaluate building retrofit options.
However, the study examined a residential building model and does not itself establish that its recommended measures were implemented in Atatürk University’s campus buildings.
Evidence: AVESİS – Integrated Approach to Energy-Efficient Building Retrofits, 2025
5. Proposed Framework for Progressive Building Upgrades
The University’s existing strategic commitments and technical experience provide a basis for developing a more detailed energy efficiency improvement programme for existing buildings.
A potential implementation framework would involve four stages.
Stage 1 – Assessment and Prioritisation
Identify existing buildings requiring improvements, establish energy consumption baselines and evaluate technical conditions.
Stage 2 – Short-Term Efficiency Measures
Prioritise feasible improvements such as LED lighting replacement, occupancy-based controls, heating system maintenance and operational optimisation.
Stage 3 – Building Retrofit Investments
Evaluate more substantial interventions, including thermal insulation, window replacement, heating equipment modernisation and renewable energy integration.
Stage 4 – Monitoring and Verification
Track energy consumption before and after improvements, assess actual savings and use the findings to inform subsequent investment decisions.
This framework represents a recommended structure for further institutional planning, rather than evidence that all four stages were formally adopted or implemented during 2025.
6. Alignment with Sustainable Development Objectives
Energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings can contribute to several institutional and environmental objectives.
These include:
- Reducing electricity and heating demand.
- Improving the operational efficiency of campus infrastructure.
- Supporting the responsible use of financial and energy resources.
- Reducing emissions associated with building energy consumption.
- Improving thermal comfort and the quality of indoor environments.
- Supporting the University’s sustainable campus development priorities.
The integration of energy efficiency considerations into strategic planning provides an important starting point for these objectives.
7. Supporting Evidence and Institutional Documentation
| Evidence | Relevance to Indicator 7.2.2 |
|---|---|
| Narman Vocational School 2024–2028 Strategic Plan | Formal unit-level planning commitments and performance indicators for energy efficiency and physical infrastructure improvements |
| Atatürk University 2025 Institutional Activity Report | Institutional reporting and monitoring framework |
| LED Illumination Feasibility Study | Technical assessment supporting lighting efficiency improvements |
| Proposed 50 kW Solar Energy Project | Example of planned renewable energy integration into university infrastructure |
| Oltu Vocational School Solar Lighting Project | Example of renewable energy use in campus infrastructure |
| 2025 Research on Energy-Efficient Building Retrofits | Scientific expertise relevant to assessing retrofit alternatives |
8. Contribution to SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
Atatürk University’s strategic planning documents, renewable energy initiatives and technical research demonstrate an institutional commitment to improving energy efficiency and developing more sustainable infrastructure.
The inclusion of energy efficiency applications and physical facility improvements in unit-level strategic planning provides documented evidence of forward-looking institutional priorities.
Existing feasibility studies and renewable energy projects further support the University’s capacity to identify and evaluate opportunities for improving energy performance.
Together, these activities contribute to SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, Indicator 7.2.2: Plans for Upgrading Existing Buildings to Higher Energy Efficiency, while providing a foundation for more detailed, building-specific retrofit planning and implementation.
