UniMAP Eyes Campus As Living Lab for Green Tech, Sustainability Solutions

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) has the potential to turn its campus environment into a living laboratory that connects research, education and operational management to develop green technology and sustainability solutions.

UniMAP Centre of Sustainable Campus and Energy Management (COSCEM) director Prof Dr Irnis Azura Zakarya said campus buildings, cafeterias, landscaped areas and forests could serve as real-life settings for identifying problems and testing interventions.

“Students, researchers and facilities managers can work together to collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of solutions.

“This approach strengthens experiential learning while producing graduates who understand the social and environmental implications of every technical decision,” she said in an article entitled ‘Technology for the Earth: UniMAP’s Role in Building a Sustainable Future’.

She said as an institution specialising in engineering and technology, UniMAP has multidisciplinary expertise in electrical, electronic, mechanical, civil, materials and environmental engineering, providing a foundation for addressing sustainability challenges in an integrated manner.

Irnis Azura said the university’s role also encompassed aligning knowledge with the needs of industry and society to ensure that the approaches developed are practical and offer lasting benefits.

She said the transition to renewable energy is among the key areas where the university could contribute its expertise, including through solar photovoltaic systems, biomass utilisation and energy storage integration.

“Engineering contributions encompass resource assessment, system design, performance optimisation and maintenance. However, technology selection must be based on site suitability, demand profiles and life-cycle costs to ensure that implementation is viable and meets users’ needs,” she said.

On energy efficiency, she said energy audits, submeter installation and improvements to building operations could help identify consumption patterns and potential savings, while Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies could support monitoring and data analysis to guide management decisions.

Irnis Azura said the scope of green technology also encompassed water management, pollution control and more responsible use of materials, including rainwater harvesting systems, leak detection and wastewater treatment.

Meanwhile, she said the circular economy concept of ‘waste to resource’ also offered research opportunities to transform agricultural or industrial by-products into useful products, for example through composting, which links organic waste management with soil conservation.

On community engagement, she said collaboration between the university and schools, locals, places of worship and community organisations would enable local issues to be identified before appropriate interventions are devised.

She said experience gained through the Perlis Go Clean: Think Before You Throw programme demonstrated the link between sustainability education and community action.

“Practical training, guidance and local collaboration provide opportunities to build awareness and shared responsibility, while the approach can also be extended to prudent energy use, water conservation and environmental protection,” she said.

From a socioeconomic perspective, Irnis Azura said knowledge transfer could potentially help households and local businesses manage resources more efficiently through education on electricity consumption, basic maintenance and waste reduction.

She said COSCEM played a role in bridging campus sustainability needs with academic expertise and community networks, while collaboration with industries and relevant agencies supported implementation and technology transfer.

“Success should be evaluated based on changes in resource consumption, operational effectiveness and sustained participation, rather than merely on the number of activities conducted or equipment provided,” she said.

-- BERNAMA