This page brings together RUET's evidence for SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy: the Vice-Chancellor's office orders, the rooftop solar systems already in operation and the solar projects being planned, energy-saving upgrades in campus buildings, and low-carbon transport on campus.
Evidence 01
An official notice has been issued to the concerned section by the Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor of RUET to take the necessary steps on the Solar Energy Expansion Plan.
Office Order Memo No. 2506 (8 December 2024) instructs the Planning & Development Section and the Engineering Section to plan rooftop solar panels for department, institute and administrative buildings, prepare a feasibility and cost estimate, replace conventional lighting with LED, install inverter-based air conditioners and report progress to the Vice-Chancellor's office.
Evidence 02
The Department of EEE has installed a solar power system on the rooftop of the EEE building; a solar power system has been installed on the rooftop of the Heat Engine Lab in the ME Department; and a solar power system has been installed on the rooftop of the Library building to generate electrical energy.
The EEE Building array is a fixed-tilt, grid-tied 4 kWp system producing about 6,000 kWh of clean electricity a year, and the Heat Engine Lab of the ME Department runs a 3.5 kW solar-assisted hybrid system. The photographs show the rooftop solar installations.
Evidence 03
A committee has been formed to review the implementation plans and submit an annual report on the progress.
Office Order Memo No. 2505 (8 December 2024) constitutes RUET's SDG committee, chaired by the Director of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), with members from Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Urban & Regional Planning, ETE and IEES. Its terms of reference include identifying problems, developing strategies and policies, and monitoring and reporting on progress.
Evidence 04: Proposed Grid- and Utility-Scale Solar Projects
Beyond the rooftop systems already in use, RUET has three solar projects at the proposal stage: a 20 kWp on-grid system for the rooftop of the 10-storey Mechanical Engineering Building, a 1 MW solar project across the rooftops of campus buildings, and a 20 MW Independent Power Producer (IPP) solar plant on 50 acres of campus land. The drawing shows the planned 20 kWp on-grid system.
Evidence 05: Passive Energy-Efficient Infrastructure
Selected classrooms and corridors are designed for passive energy saving: window placement and building orientation bring in natural daylight, and cross-ventilation keeps air moving. This reduces the need for artificial lighting and mechanical cooling during the day, as the photographs of a corridor and a classroom show.
Evidence 06: LED Lighting Replacement Initiative
Under the Vice-Chancellor's plan, conventional bulbs are being replaced with energy-efficient LED lights in classrooms, laboratories and offices, starting with the ECE and ME faculties. The photograph shows LED lights installed in a classroom.
Evidence 07: Introduction of Inverter Air Conditioners
RUET is gradually replacing conventional air conditioners with inverter-based units, which draw less power, especially at peak hours; inverter ACs have recently been installed in Academic Building 01. Air conditioners on campus are also instructed to run at no lower than 25°C.
Evidence 08: Student and Club Participation
Students and student organisations, including environmental and volunteer clubs, take part in RUET's tree-plantation drives on occasions such as National Tree Plantation Week and World Environment Day, building awareness of carbon reduction and sustainability across the campus.
Evidence 09: Use of Electric Vehicles
This campus electric vehicle for female students was designed and developed by RUET's Department of Mechanical Engineering. It provides clean, low-emission transport within the campus, alongside the electric cars already in institutional use.
Evidence 10: Electric rickshaws in service at the RUET main gate
More than 50 electric rickshaws operate on campus every day, giving students, staff and visitors a zero-emission option for short trips. The photograph shows electric rickshaws in service at the RUET main gate.
Evidence 11: Bicycle parking facility on campus
More than 300 bicycles are in use at RUET, supported by nine dedicated bicycle parking facilities (eight at the male student halls and one bicycle garage), encouraging cycling as a zero-emission way to travel around the campus.