Sustainability-driven energy management strategies for reducing carbon footprints in higher education

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are intense energy consumers with a substantial carbon footprint (CF), yet they hold promising potential for emissions reductions. This study aims to evaluate the CF of the College of Maritime Transport and Technology (CMTT), Alexandria, Egypt, and to assess the effectiveness of four mitigation strategies. An in-depth CF analysis was conducted based on Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions using established protocols to identify key emission sources. Building on this baseline, the study evaluates the impact of four mitigation strategies: (1) improving energy efficiency in buildings, (2) PV-based energy generation, (3) electrifying the campus transport fleet, and (4) an innovative on-campus waste valorisation system that converts Recycled Cooking Oil (RCO) into biodiesel. The analysis estimates the potential for RCO production from campus activities and quantifies feasible CF reductions from biodiesel-based fossil fuel substitution. The effectiveness of this approach is compared with that of conventional strategies, showing varying degrees of contribution to institutional decarbonisation. The study provides a novel integration of circular economy solutions—specifically RCO-to-biodiesel conversion—into a conventional energy and emissions management framework. It offers a replicable roadmap for HEIs to enhance sustainability through combined renewable, efficiency, and waste-to-energy strategies.