Public Transport (Use of e-Rickshaw)

Lovely Professional University (LPU) has embraced electric mobility as a milestone towards low-cost and eco-friendly transportation. The university has adopted e-rickshaws as a mode of shared fixed-route mobility, offering affordable transportation options to its students. Here are some details about the e-rickshaw system at LPU:

• High-quality vehicles with advanced electric systems: The e-rickshaws used by LPU are of high quality and equipped with advanced electric systems. These systems ensure efficient performance and contribute to reducing carbon emissions compared to conventional fuel vehicles.
• Fast-charging and long-range technology: The e-rickshaws feature fast-charging capabilities and long-range capabilities, allowing them to cover significant distances on a single charge. This technology ensures that the e-rickshaws can operate effectively throughout the day without interruptions.
• Tech-enabled platform connecting students and drivers: LPU likely has a tech-enabled platform or app that connects students with e-rickshaw drivers. This platform enables students to easily access transportation services and provides a convenient means of connecting with available e-rickshaws.
• Intelligent route planning mechanism: The e-rickshaw system at LPU includes an intelligent route planning mechanism. This mechanism, developed by a B.Tech. Mechanical student named Deepak Dhayal, likely optimizes routes to ensure efficient transportation services for students.
• E-rickshaws and golf karts: LPU currently operates 36 e-rickshaws and 10 golf karts within the campus. These vehicles contribute to maintaining a friendly and pollution-free campus environment.

Use of Bicycle

Lovely Professional University (LPU) adopted an eco-friendly system in collaboration with Hero Cycles, which has led to the university being declared as the country's first bicycle-friendly university. This initiative began in January 2018 and has since made significant progress. Here are some details about the bicycle-friendly system:

• Availability of bicycles: LPU has made approximately 600 bicycles available to students, enabling them to use bicycles as a mode of transportation on campus. By providing bicycles, the university encourages students to opt for eco-friendly and healthier transportation options.
• Bicycle stands: The campus is equipped with more than 15 bicycle stands strategically located across the premises. These stands provide convenient parking spaces for the bicycles and make it easier for students to access and secure their bikes.
• Usage and participation: Approximately 4,000 students utilize the shared bicycle system on a daily basis. This indicates a significant level of participation and acceptance of the initiative among the student community.
• Awareness through Hexi-bikes: LPU utilizes Hexi-bikes as a means to raise awareness among students about pollution, unhealthy transportation choices, and traffic congestion. Hexi-bikes likely serve as educational tools or displays that provide information and promote discussions on these topics.
• Hexi Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) systems: The Hexi PBS systems used by LPU employ automated service, monitoring, and tracking systems. This ensures smooth operations and efficient management of the bicycle sharing program. Additionally, the Smart Ape access system is likely used to facilitate easy access and usage of the bicycles by students.
• By implementing this bicycle-friendly system, LPU aims to promote sustainable and eco-friendly transportation options, reduce pollution and traffic congestion, and raise awareness about the importance of making environmentally conscious transportation choices. This initiative showcases LPU's commitment to creating a campus environment that supports and encourages sustainable practices among its student community.

Biogas generation from organic waste

The university utilizes organic waste to produce biogas, which is a renewable source of energy. This helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing waterway pollution. The campus has three cubic meter biogas systems that process kitchen waste, producing biogas consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases. This biogas can be used as an alternative to conventional energy sources.

The energy transition towards low-carbon sources demonstrated a positive trend over the years 2021 to 2023. In 2021, energy production from low-carbon sources stood at 1.1 MW, indicating the modest beginnings of a more sustainable energy mix. By 2022, this figure increased significantly to 5.1 MW, reflecting growing investment and commitment to cleaner energy options. In 2023, the momentum continued, with a notable increase to 7.5 MW.

The share of energy generated from low-carbon sources experienced notable growth between 2020 and 2023. In 2020, these sources made up just 4.81% of the total energy generation. However, by 2021, there was a significant rise, with low-carbon sources contributing 24.64% to the energy mix, signaling a major shift toward cleaner energy. This upward trend persisted in 2022, reaching 25.85%, and continued to climb to 33.55% in 2023. These figures demonstrate a sustained commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to more sustainable, environmentally friendly energy production, highlighting a promising path toward a greener energy future.

Lovely Professional University has been making strides in energy efficiency, as seen by the significant decline in energy consumption per unit of floor area over recent years. In 2020, the consumption was 0.12 units per square foot or square meter, but this dropped drastically to 0.025 in 2021, showcasing substantial improvements. The trend continued into 2022, with a further reduction to 0.023, indicating ongoing efforts towards sustainability. Although there was a slight increase to 0.025 in 2023, the overall decrease reflects successful initiatives like enhanced insulation, upgraded HVAC systems, and adoption of renewable energy.

These efforts align with the university's commitment to the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations. The installation of rooftop solar PV plants and the potential of 7.5 MW solar power plant further highlight the university's dedication to utilizing renewable energy sources and reducing its carbon footprint.

Lovely Professional University-National Service Scheme (LPU-NSS) had run a campaign for environment protection on World Environment Day. NPU-NSS made people aware by planting trees in different parts of the country. Under the “My Pet Plant” project by LPU-NSS, the volunteers took the responsibility of adopting a sampling and rearing it.

On the ocassion of World Earth Day, LPU-NSS had run a plantation drive to keep earth clean and green. In this drive volenteers, faculty members and LPU dignitories took a plantation to protect Earths natural resources for future generations. Some of the other’s initiatives that are taken by university for reducing Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions are as under:

Energy Efficient Buildings

Energy Efficient Buildings: In an era of smart cities, sustainable buildings and contemporary interiors, University designed an energy-efficient building with specialized architects. They have also trained our students to become lateral thinkers by focusing on the critical design approach. With exposure to an international environment, access to the latest tools, software’s and technology, our students also become architects that create buildings and infrastructure that are globally acknowledged. Due to the incorporation of energy-efficient building strategies, the energy consumption density of the LPU buildings is much lower than a 5 star rated building by Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Government of India.

Amphitheatre: The University has 3 amphitheatres of different capacities to conserve the energy by organizing cultural events, competitions, and plays in natural light. The university is committed to increase its numbers in future.

Creepers vertical greening strategies: The objectives for the green campus have been framed aligned with the national and international guidelines. Creepers vertical greening strategies have been adopted for saving energy and reduction of urban heat island effects.

Solar Water Pumping System: Implementing a Solar Water Pumping System at Lovely Professional University (LPU) is a smart and eco-friendly initiative. Solar-powered water pumping systems utilize solar energy to pump water, reducing dependence on traditional grid-connected pumps that run on fossil fuels.

Energy Performance Index:

Energy Performance Index (EPI) in kWh per square meter/year is considered for the rating of the buildings for star label by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Govt. of India. The energy performance index of Lovely Professional University was + 33.42 kWh/m2/year. For the composite climate of India if a building is having more than 50% of building area than the building is considered 5 star rated building if EPI is below 90 kWh/m2/year. In the case of LPU, the EPI is much lower than Indian standard of 5 stars rating which itself shows efficient management and operation of the building.

Star rating for office buildings as per Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Government of India for major climates of India.

Air-conditioned area > 50% of building area	Lovely Professional University	Star Label
EPI (kWh/m2/year)	EPI (kWh/m2/year)
190-165	-	*
165-140	-	**
140-115	-	***
115-90	-	****
Below 90	33.43	*****

Chiller Plant: In administrative blocks, the University replaced split and windows ACs with 265 TR centralized chiller water-based cooling system. The new system consumes 40% less electrical energy as compared to conventional ACs. University also has a strategy for reducing the consumption of energy by scheduling the running time of the Air condition machines in the daytime as well as peak summer months.