Konya, one of Turkey's largest cities, is committed to a carbon-neutral future.
Konya’s dedication to climate neutrality is evident in its ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and improve energy performance across various sectors. This includes the integration of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and innovative practices that support both environmental and economic sustainability.
The Selcuk University Smart and Green Campus project is a key part of this vision, aligning with the city's climate neutrality goals by focusing on energy efficiency, smart infrastructure, and the reduction of carbon emissions across the university campus.
Deep-Dive: Selcuk Green and Smart Campus Project, Konya (20.12.2022-12.10.2023)
Selcuk University has seen a significant rise in student numbers since the late 1990s and early 2000s, driven by the expansion of its faculties and academic programmes. Today, the university serves over 67,000 students across multiple departments. This rapid growth led to a sharp increase in energy consumption, prompting the university to seek sustainable solutions to manage its energy demand efficiently.
As part of the Green and Smart Campus initiative, several key interventions were introduced. These included the deployment of a smart energy management system using AI-driven software to monitor and optimise electricity consumption, the installation of smart valves and automated taps to reduce water waste, and the integration of 52 energy analysers across 34 campus buildings to track real-time energy usage. Additionally, feasibility studies were conducted to explore renewable energy integration, particularly solar and biomass energy sources.
The implementation of these solutions began in December 2022, following a research and planning phase that started in 2021. The total project budget amounted to USD 146,000, with funding provided by the Konya Planning and Development Agency (KOP), which contributed 54%, and Selcuk University, which covered the remaining 46%. This financial support enabled the university to invest in critical infrastructure and technology, ensuring a sustainable transition towards smarter energy use.
The process started with two studies:
The project followed a structured timeline, beginning with feasibility studies and planning in 2021-2022. The Smart Campus Study, which focused on developing AI-driven energy monitoring software, took place throughout 2022, with testing and adjustments occurring in early 2023. In parallel, the Green Campus Study, aimed at optimising water and energy use, began in December 2022 and was fully implemented by October 2023.
- The Smart Campus study had the objectives of measuring hourly electricity consumption of campus buildings and storing the information in a local sever; developing an energy management software to analyse collected data and detect anomalies; and developing a Smart Campus website application, which is designed as an AI-powered monitoring platform, the application collects real-time energy data from the installed analysers, providing a comprehensive overview of electricity consumption patterns across campus.
- The Green Campus study had the objective of censoring tap and lighting installation and setting up smart valves across key campus buildings to regulate water flow and reduce waste. These smart valves were introduced in high-usage areas such as classrooms, laboratories, and dormitories, where uncontrolled water consumption had been a persistent issue. By automating water control, the university aimed to reduce unnecessary water usage while maintaining user convenience.
To date, Selcuk University has installed 52 energy analysers in 34 diverse campus buildings, including dormitories, cafeterias, hospitals, sports facilities, and classrooms. These analysers track real-time electricity consumption, feeding data into a sophisticated software application powered by AI. This platform compares real and predicted energy usage, identifying discrepancies and suggesting strategies to optimise consumption. By reducing unnecessary energy expenditure, the university is able to cut costs while advancing toward its climate-neutrality goals.
The project was executed with funding from both the Konya Planning and Development Agency and Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology. The total investment in 2022 was USD 146,000. With an anticipated 5% reduction in energy use, the project is expected to pay for itself within one year, making it a financially viable and environmentally impactful initiative.
What were the key drivers of an effective implementation?
- High cost of energy consumption: High electricity expenditure motivated the institution to look for opportunities for reducing its energy consumption.
- Resource availability: Funding support from the Konya Development Agency (KOP), an affiliated organisation of the Ministry of Industry and Technology of Turkey (54%) and the university (46%) facilitated the project implementation, with a clear focus on achieving energy savings in a short payback period.
- Multilevel governance: Even if the university was already working toward this goal; the support of the KOP was key to its continuation. The ambition being to gain the status of the first university in Turkey to get the Green Campus Label.
- Behavioural change: Changes in the universities' behaviour regarding electricity usage were a key driver for the continuation of the project.
- Data and knowledge generation: With 84 campus buildings, implementing energy management systems was crucial for improving efficiency and providing accurate data for continuous improvement.
What challenges and barriers did the project encounter?
- Security risks: Reduced outdoor garden lighting raised security concerns in certain areas of the campus.
- Lack of technical know-how: The lack of experience installing energy analysers slowed down the process and required interventions form third parties. Additionally, Selcuk University leveraged its academic strengths by involving graduate students from the Computer and Electrical Engineering departments in the installation and operational phases.
- Cybersecurity risks: Energy analysers are common in commercial buildings but not public buildings due to cybersecurity risks. Also, smart valves must be controlled from a cloud server which requires configuring the LAN ports to WANs. The university needed to gather support to overcome these barriers and set up ECT access to all public university buildings on campus.
- Software IP related barriers: As the software developed by students was part of a Master's programme, some internal challenges arose regarding skills and capacity.
Lessons learned
- Behavioural change is crucial: Data alone can't drive energy savings - energy saving strategies must be developed using analysed data and user behaviour must be influenced through awareness campaigns.
- Effective data management: AI-driven energy monitoring provides valuable insights but requires dedicated governance for sustained success.
- Technical challenges: Overcoming cybersecurity concerns and lack of expertise in energy analysers is vital for smooth implementation.
- Establishment of a dedicated energy management unit: This unit is responsible for overseeing energy efficiency measures, troubleshooting technical issues, and ensuring the sustainability of the project. By building internal capacity, the university has positioned itself for ongoing improvements and scalability.
Replicability and Upscaling
- Smart energy management systems: The AI-driven energy monitoring and management system can be applied in universities, government buildings, and large public institutions.
- Energy management governance: The establishment of dedicated energy management units can be replicated to ensure ongoing monitoring and optimisation.
- Data-driven behaviour change: Replicating user behaviour change initiatives through awareness campaigns, informed by data insights, can be key for success in other locations.
By applying these lessons, Konya is leading the way toward a greener, zero-carbon future, serving as a model for other regions looking to cut their carbon footprint through smart decarbonisation.
For further information, feel free to contact Dr. Gul Nihal Gugul, Programme Manager, University of Selcuk at gul.gugul@selcuk.edu.tr.