ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard Certificate

Özyeğin University is the first university in Turkey to receive the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard Certificate. It was established in 2012 and was registered by the internationally respected and recognized BSI (British Standards Institute) certification body in 2014. Özyeğin University periodically monitors the requirements of the standard, reports, and conducts in-house audits. It is also audited by BSI every year. Özyeğin University has accepted environmental sustainability as one of its primary criteria for existence, starting from its establishment and campus construction. In accordance with its published environmental policy, it conducts environmental dimension impact analysis and focuses on improvement activities to minimize natural resource consumption by taking the obtained outputs as reference. Energy management, waste management, carbon footprint and water footprint reporting are carried out regularly. 

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System is a management system developed to systematically reduce and, where possible, eliminate the damage that institutions cause or may cause to the environment. In this context, the published Environmental, Energy, and Water Efficiency Policy specifies the institutional policy and the Environmental Management Plan expresses practices, duties and concepts. The Campus Energy and Water Resources Usage Guide has been published and the environmental aspects to be considered are explained in detail.

LEED Gold Sertificates

In our buildings, which were built with the LEED approach determined according to the criteria set forth by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), the design and construction of our campus buildings were carried out considering water saving and waste management. Wells were opened on the campus, plumbing systems were installed for rain harvesting and Grey Water use in the buildings, appropriate plants were selected and a landscape plan was implemented with drip irrigation systems. Materials were selected to minimize the impact on the environment and the resulting waste was directed to recycling. It was reported to the USGBC that sufficient infrastructure and other requirements were concretely realized for our three buildings and they were certified at the Gold level. Afterwards, the design and construction of the other additional buildings on the campus were carried out with the same approach according to the USGBC criteria.

ISO 50001 Energy Management System Standard Certificate
ISO 50001 is an international standard for energy management systems and aims to help organizations systematically improve their energy performance. This standard seeks to enhance energy efficiency, thereby reducing environmental impacts and achieving cost savings. In line with its sustainability vision, Özyeğin University has established the ISO 50001 Energy Management System and has become one of the pioneering institutions in this field. The university monitors energy consumption across the campus, utilizes high energy-efficiency technologies, and conducts continuous improvement processes. In this context, energy-saving projects have been developed, training sessions have been organized to raise user awareness, and the university has established a model structure in energy management.

Energy Efficiency Policy

Energy efficiency at Özyeğin University is maintained through an energy management system in which all administrative decisions and end user behavior are well-planned and continuously monitored with a robust and well-organized facility infrastructure. To that end, the University adopts a comprehensive approach to energy management. This approach covers energy management,  facility infrastructure and facility management. The University uses its energy resources effectively, shows due care and attention for renewable and alternative energy resources, recycles waste energy, and minimizes its energy losses. Furthermore, the University closely follows up on technological developments, and places a special emphasis on energy efficient technologies. In all new investment, purchasing, and improvement projects, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness are always prioritized as key considerations.

You can access the Energy Efficiency Policy here.

Energy-efficient renovation and building
Our three buildings have a total of 69,675 m2 of space and hold LEED Gold certification. We have procedures and a management plan in place regarding energy efficiency. Processes are managed in compliance with the ISO 50001 Energy Management System standards.

Upgrade buildings to higher energy efficiency
Energy management is provided without compromising comfort, and an energy study report is conducted every 7 years. Additionally, we allocate resources for the renewal of outdated equipment, such as replacing T5 fluorescent bulb fixtures with LED fixtures.

Carbon reduction and emission reduction process
Tri-generation and solar system investments have been made to meet our electrical needs, and Technical Services is responsible for their operation.

Özyegin University manages its energy and carbon strategy under the ISO 50001 Energy Management System. The institutional carbon footprint is calculated in line with ISO 14064 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, with Scope 1 and 2 emissions monitored against the 2018 baseline year. As there is no motor vehicle traffic within the campus, most emissions originate from energy consumption. A 378 kWp rooftop solar PV system and a trigeneration plant support efficient and renewable energy use, reducing emissions. A web-based carbon management software is used to track, monitor, and report all emissions data. Additionally, the university uses I-REC certificates to verify that purchased electricity comes from renewable sources and invests in certified carbon offset projects to neutralize its remaining emissions.

Carbon Footprint Report

In alignment with Özyeğin University’s environmental philosophy under the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, we have revised and republished our Institutional Carbon Footprint Report. Compliant with the ISO 14064 Standard, the report serves as a testimony of the University's commitment to environmental sustainability, demonstrating its dedication to systematically assessing its institutional carbon footprint.

The Institutional Carbon Footprint Report is compiled by considering key sources such as energy consumption and transportation. It is an essential tool for Özyeğin University in achieving its environmental sustainability goals. The report scientifically analyzes greenhouse gas emissions, enabling more efficient management of energy and resource consumption.  Additionally, it contributes to the development of sustainability strategies, fosters environmental awareness, and promotes greater environmental consciousness among all university stakeholders. By promoting the efficient use of resources and compliance with international ISO 14064 standards, the report also plays a pivotal role in reinforcing our commitment to global environmental responsibility and advancing our contribution to a more sustainable future.

You may find the report in the following link.

Energy Use

ÖzÜ continues to operate the trigeneration facilities located on campus and maximizes renewable energy production where practical by installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on university building rooftops.

In 2024, ÖzÜ consumed approximately 13,500,000 kWh of energy. Through the use of renewable energy sources on campus, approximately 400,000 kWh of electricity was saved. This level of savings is expected to be sustained in the coming years.

The total solar energy capacity on the ÖzÜ campus is 378 kWp. Every saving in our operational expenses—especially energy costs—contributes to the funding of the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program (EFEB) at our university.

ÖzÜ has implemented various measures to limit its carbon footprint. These include the use of wind and solar panels on all non-green roofs, and a trigeneration system for heating and cooling. The university has recently started using a web-based carbon footprint calculator and carbon management software, which provides the capacity to measure, monitor, report, and manage carbon footprints based on The Greenhouse Gas Protocol guidelines.

Özyeğin calculates Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, including emissions intensity and reductions, using 2018 as the base year. For 2024, ÖzÜ’s carbon emissions are estimated at approximately 9,650 tons of CO₂, or 0.97 tons of CO₂ per capita.

I-REC Certification

Ozyegin University has obtained an I-REC (International Renewable Energy Certificate) for its electricity consumption in 2024.

The I-REC is an internationally recognized certificate that verifies electricity consumption has been sourced from renewable energy.  With this certification, Ozyegin University has formally documented that all electricity used in 2024 was supplied by renewable energy sources—marking an important step in reducing our carbon footprint.

Carbon Offsetting

Ozyegin University has balanced its carbon emissions generated throughout 2024 through carbon offsetting projects, marking an important milestone toward our net zero emissions target.

Carbon offsetting is the process of compensating for greenhouse gas emissions produced by an individual or organization by supporting projects that reduce, prevent, or remove an equivalent amount of emissions elsewhere. This is an important environmental management tool aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and combating climate change.

Energy Efficiency Plan
In all our facilities, A+ energy-consuming devices are selected. Significant energy usage is continually monitored and controlled. Low electricity consumption LED fixtures are chosen for campus lighting improvements. 
Within the scope of ISO 50001 EnMS, the aim is to increase awareness among campus stakeholders. Energy consumption within the framework of Environmental Management Systems is compared to the previous year, covering four quarters, and improvement areas are detailed based on this data.
The maintenance of climate control systems is performed, and heating and cooling data are monitored and controlled through automation. Annual maintenance of electrical and mechanical automation systems ensures efficient operation.
 

Clean Energy Energy Reviews
Electricity consumption is monitored and recorded with quality analyzers, and energy studies are conducted regularly. It is mandatory to survey public buildings responsible for appointing an energy manager. These surveys are either commissioned to companies by the institutions and organizations to which the public building is affiliated or carried out by the institutions and organizations themselves if they have personnel with Building Survey-Project Certificate. These surveys are renewed every seven years.

Policy Divesting Investments
Özyegin University continues feasibility studies to increase the capacity of solar energy systems (GES) installed on building roofs. Existing GES systems are regularly maintained. Within the framework of the European-Funded LegoFit project conducted within EÇEM, additional GES is being worked on for Dormitory 6 B Block.

The University management prepared a detailed report on the possibility of  reaching100% renewable energy usage and it is currently under consideration.

EÇEM (Center for Energy, Environment, and Economy)
EÇEM (Center for Energy, Environment, and Economy) at Özyeğin University is an interdisciplinary research center conducting research, application, and education activities in the field of sustainability. The primary goal of EÇEM is to develop innovative solutions that integrate energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and economic impact. The center provides consultancy and research services in areas such as building energy modeling, sustainable building design, carbon footprint calculations, life cycle assessments, and energy systems optimization. Additionally, it collaborates with public and private sectors to contribute to the development of energy and environmental policies. EÇEM significantly supports the university's sustainability vision by offering applied projects and research opportunities for students and academics. Detailed information about EÇEM is available here.