UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

UPES report · 5. A sustainable campus

5A sustainable campus

UPES's campuses in the Himalayan foothills are planned to protect the natural landscape and use energy and water carefully.

Impact

UPES campuses are planned around people on foot, green space and careful use of energy and water.

GRIHAnational green building recognition
100 kWsolar plant on campus
650 KLDsewage treatment, zero water discharge
89%water savings through recharge and reuse
  • Fossil-fuel vehicles are restricted on campus, and electric carts and walkable paths connect buildings.
  • A shuttle links both campuses with Dehradun city.
  • Hostels house students close to class, and Project Protsaahan scholars live in hostels free of charge.
  • Green design. UPES received GRIHA recognition, India's national green building rating, presented at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Topsoil was saved and reused, the terrain and green cover preserved, and CFC- and HCFC-free refrigerants and insulation used.
  • Energy. A 100 kW solar plant, 61,500 litres of solar water heating for hostels, LED lighting and a unity power factor.
  • Water. A sewage treatment system with a capacity of 650 kilolitres a day recycles wastewater for horticulture, and rainwater harvesting pits with flow meters recharge groundwater.
  • Clean mobility. Walkable paths and green spaces, plus student-built clean transport such as the U-BAHN electric cart with an 85 Ah battery and IoT tracking, an electric bike and a solar tree that lights and charges devices.
  • Building to green standards. Under the UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy[4] (2025), all new buildings and renovations must follow the Energy Conservation Building Code and National Building Code, use GRIHA or IGBC green-building ratings where feasible and specify energy-efficient equipment (§5.1.1).
  • Greener commuting. The Divestment Policy[5] commits UPES to electric carts and battery-operated vehicles for getting around campus and to restrictions on fossil-fuel vehicles on campus, and the 2025 policy encourages carpooling, cycling and battery-powered vehicles (§5.4). A shuttle links the Bidholi and Kandoli campuses with Dehradun city, and the Climate Action Plan includes electrifying campus service vehicles and promoting greener commuting.
  • Campuses for people on foot. With fossil-fuel vehicles restricted, walkable paths and green spaces connect academic buildings, hostels and food courts.
  • Housing for students. Hostels on both campuses house students close to their classes, with meals included in the hostel fee, and Project Protsaahan scholars live in hostels free of charge.
  • Flexible working. Non-academic staff work flexible hours around core hours of 10 am to 4 pm.
  • Courses for city builders. Programmes include the B.Tech in Sustainability Engineering, B.Tech Computer Science with IoT and Smart Cities, and Transportation and Mobility Design.