Most DEU buildings are designed to maximize natural daylight through extensive glass facades. This not only enhances their aesthetic appeal but also reduces reliance on electric lighting during sunny hours, improving energy efficiency and contributing to sustainability. The abundant natural light creates a spacious atmosphere, enhancing user experience and overall quality of life.

In May 2024, the Presidential Circular on Savings Measures emphasized the importance of energy conservation. In line with this, Dokuz Eylul University has prioritized energy-efficient devices across its campuses. All approximately 11,000 computers are Energy Star certified, reflecting a commitment to sustainability.

DEU continuously updates its interior equipment to enhance energy efficiency, with classrooms, common areas, and staff offices primarily using LED lighting. More than half of the lighting is LED, reducing energy consumption and promoting a healthier environment. Common areas with large surfaces utilize motion-sensor lighting systems that automatically detect movement, conserving energy by only illuminating spaces when necessary. Additionally, the university’s inventory includes 700 televisions, 1,500 refrigerators, and about 8,000 A+ certified air conditioning units.

The campuses are heated using central heating systems, and newly constructed buildings have central cooling systems. Older buildings use energy-efficient inverter air conditioners. Recently, all electrical appliances, including refrigerators, have been chosen for their energy efficiency, prioritizing A+ rated items. This comprehensive approach highlights DEU’s commitment to sustainability and aligns with national energy conservation goals.

The area of smart buildings in DEU has reached to 231.867  m2 in 2024 including  DEPARK Technology Development Zone in Tınaztepe Campus (TGB-1), DEPARK Technology Development Zone in 15 Temmuz Campus (TGB-2), New Hospital Management Building, İzmir Bio Genom Institute (İBG),  Faculty of Law, Central Laboratory Building, 15 Temmuz Health and Art Campus Common Classrooms Building, Foreign Languages Vocational School Buıildings, Faculty of Medicine, Basic Sciences and Dean’s Building, Faculty of Fine Arts and State Conservatory Building. In addition, There are many renovated and enhanced units classified as smart units including Intensive Care Units, Operation Rooms, Laboratories, Pharmacy, Radiology Area, Nuclear Medicine Area, Sterilization Area, Blood Bank, Dialysis Cente, Radiation Oncology and Angiographies  within the Dokuz Eylul University Application and Research Hospital.   The ratio of the smart buildings in the total is calculated as 28.2 %.

The Solar Energy Project at Dokuz Eylul University began in March 2022, leading to the installation of solar power plants under a 25-year lease agreement with a private company. This company established solar plants with a total capacity of 15 MW at no cost to the university. Over the lease period, the company will operate these plants and eventually transfer ownership. The university will pay for the generated electricity at a 10% discount, with any excess energy returned to the grid.

Currently, a total installed capacity of 15,205 kWe has been achieved across seven campuses, producing 21,833,292 kWh of energy from September 2023 to August 2024. Additionally, 2,455,500 kWh of geothermal energy was utilized at the 15 July Health and Arts Campus.

The university kitchens have also implemented a system for separately collecting vegetable waste oils, which are stored in a designated area. These oils are delivered to a licensed recycling company that converts them into biodiesel. During the reporting period, 4,558 tons of vegetable waste oil were collected, contributing to sustainable waste management and renewable energy production. This process can yield approximately 50,000 kWh of energy.

In the 2023-2024 period, the total electricity consumption across DEU Campuses was 25.567.451 kWh. This figure includes the combined electrical usage of administrative and academic units, as well as the SKS (Health Culture Sports) Department. The SKS Department oversees activities such as nutrition services (canteens and cafeterias), part-time student employment, social facilities, cultural events, and student dormitories. Electricity in these areas is used for various purposes, including lighting, cooling, heating, and laboratory equipment. The total electricity usage divided by the total campus’ population is 347,67 kWh.

The solar energy systems at Dokuz Eylul University began partial operation in January 2023, with the project reaching 100% completion in January 2024. From September 2023 to August 2024, the panels generated 17,183,235 kWh of electricity, excluding the Application and Research Hospital. Similarly, geothermal energy data for the 2023-2024 period, calculated from monthly kWh values, indicated that the produced energy, excluding the hospital, was 2,455,500 kWh.

As a result, the university’s total energy consumption amounted to 40,575,539 kWh, of which 19,638,735 kWh came from renewable energy sources, namely geothermal and solar energy. This represents approximately 48.4% of the total energy consumption. Plus the total carbon footprint per capita equals to 0,0987 metric tons.

Energy use in DEU campuses

Renewable energy use in DEU Campuses

On DEU campuses, the most notable sustainable building practice involves a comprehensive approach to maximizing the use of natural daylight. The university makes widespread use of energy-saving LED lights and systems that include motion sensors in many of its buildings. This method effectively contributes to ongoing decreases in electricity usage. At current, the majority of the lighting systems are LED lights.  Dokuz Eylul University is focused on water conservation and has made important choices to support this goal. We have installed water-saving features across our campuses, such as sensor faucets and urinals, dual-flush toilets, and push-to-fill water fountains.

DEU greenhouse gas emission reduction programs aim to reduce all three scopes of emissions such as controlled combustion, electricity energy form renewable sources, and proper waste management.

The total carbon footprint of DEU calculated through the Greenmetric standards is 7.263 metric tons. According to this data, the carbon footprint divided by the total campus population equals to 0,0987 metric tons/capita.

DEU provides more than 3 programs in energy and climate change including the solar energy Project, use of geothermal energy, biodiesel production, and afforestation studies.

Dokuz Eylül University offers graduate programs that directly address climate change issues, under the Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences. The Geothermal Energy Department is another graduate program closely linked to climate action. The Environmental Earth Sciences Department, while not solely focused on climate change, is a multidisciplinary program that explores environmental and earth sciences. It attracts students from various fields, including engineering, architecture, urban and regional planning, and the natural sciences.  As part of DEU’s postgraduate studies, there are numerous theses that align with the Climate Action goals within sustainable progress plans.

Courses  in various DEU Units consisting of the concept “Climate Change”

Dokuz Eylül University actively uses the Energy Efficiency Portal, a platform mandated by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources for all public and private institutions to report their energy usage and efficiency data.