In the buildings located on the Bilkent University campus, the lighting systems and electronic devices used by all stakeholders have begun to be gradually replaced by energy-saving upper segment devices.

Outdoor lighting around the campus has begun to be converted to energy-saving LED lighting. In the 2022-2023 academic year, 25-50% energy savings were achieved with the use of energy-saving devices.

The total area of ​​smart buildings at Bilkent University is 54,734 m2. Its share in the total area covered by campus buildings is 10.17%. The smart buildings located on Bilkent Campus are: 

• 81-82. Student Dormitories (24.144 m2 
• 107 Lodging Buildings (8,555 m2) 
• BLIS Laboratory Schools (12.080 m2) 
• AB MikroNano Research Center (3,766 m2) 
• Marmara Restaurant (3.715 m2) 
• Indoor Swimming Pool (2.474 m2) 

The smart building features in these buildings are as follows;

• Fire detection system 
• Security surveillance system 
• Automation lighting system (by hour) – LED, sensor and passive lighting 
• Automation heating and ventilation heat systems 
• Air quality monitoring system 
• Water heating system with solar energy

Electricity on Bilkent University campuses; It is used for lighting, heating, cooling and laboratory applications. Total electricity usage in the last 5 years is as follows; 

• 29,565,130 kWh in the 2017-2018 Academic Year 
• 29,897,054 kWh in the 2018-2019 Academic year 
• 26,272,051 kWh in the 2019-2020 Academic year 
• 24,063,178 kWh in the 2020-2021 Academic year 
• 23,514,744 kWh in the 2021-2022 Academic year 
• 26,913,607 kWh in the 2022-2023 Academic year

As of the 2022-2023 academic year, Bilkent University started to install solar panels in designated areas within the campus and produced electricity from these panels. The amount of electricity obtained from solar panels installed in the relevant year was 2,764,880 kWh, and it covered 10.27% of the total electricity consumption.

Smoke Free Campus 

Bilkent University has initiated a Smoke-Free Campus Policy with the aim of creating a healthy and civilized university environment for all university stakeholders. Bilkent University has designed 99.00% smoke-free areas in all its campuses in accordance with the “Smoke-Free Campus Policy”. Thus, it not only protected the health of all its stakeholders but also reduced gas pollution into the air. A first has been achieved among universities in Turkey with the Smoke-Free Campus policy. Greenhouse gas emission reduction activities, which started with the Smoke-Free Campus studies, were supported by the recycling program, and an integrated waste management system was created for the recycling and storage of waste.

The total carbon footprint of Bilkent University campuses was calculated by taking into account the 4 criteria detailed below. These; 

• Electricity Usage – (Annual Electricity Usage) / 1000) x 0.84 = (26,913,607 / 1000) x 0.84 = 22,607.43 metric tons 
• Bus Usage – (Number of shuttles/buses of the university) x (Daily number of trips of each service / bus) x (Average distance covered by each service / bus within the campus) x 2 x 240) / 100) x 0.01) = 19.20 metric tons 
• Car Usage – (Number of cars entering the campus daily) x 2 02 = 552.00 metric tons 
• Motorcycle Usage – (Number of motorcycles entering the campus daily) x 2 x (Average distance traveled by each motorcycle within the campus) = 15.65 metric tons 

Total Carbon Footprint = (22,607.43 + 19.20 + 552.00 + 15.65) = 23,194.28 metric tons

University Population: 

• Number of Full-Time Students: 10,379 
• Number of Full-Time Academicians: 650 
• Number of Full-Time Administrative Staff: 577 
• Full Time Population: 11,606 
• Carbon Footprint per Capita: 23,194.28 metric tons / 11,606 people = 1.99 metric tons / person

It has been calculated that there will be a carbon footprint of 1.99 metric tons per person in the 2022-2023 Academic Year. It is thought that the reason why this rate increased compared to the previous year is the increase in vehicle usage resulting from the increase in the campus population. When looking at the carbon footprint of other universities in the Ankara Universities neighborhood, METU reported it as 0.95 metric tons / person and Hacettepe University reported it as 0.77 metric tons / person. In Turkey, according to TÜİK data, the carbon footprint per person is determined as 6.7 metric tons for 2021. The reason why lower values ​​are reported in universities is due to the fact that energy-based carbon footprint is not reported.

Building Thermal Insulations

In newly constructed buildings, thicker insulation is used than required by the regulation. While the minimum required stone wool thermal insulation thickness for Ankara is 8 cm on average, 20 cm stone wool insulation is used in our campus. In addition, products with high insulation value are selected for thermally insulated joinery and glass, and thermal insulation is solved in new buildings according to German Passive House principles. In this way, energy savings are achieved by reducing heat loss in buildings.