National Chiayi University (NCYU) has long been committed to promoting campus sustainability, energy conservation, and carbon reduction. Through a multifaceted approach spanning energy management, equipment upgrades, and energy-saving initiatives involving faculty and students, the university continues to enhance campus energy efficiency. In 2025, electricity consumption for teaching purposes decreased by 1,604,095 kWh compared with 2024, representing an energy-saving rate of 6.82%. These energy-saving achievements were recognized under the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) 2026 Tiered Electricity Subsidy Program for Colleges and Universities. NCYU received the “Incentive” designation along with an incentive award of NT$4,906,539, the highest amount granted among participating institutions. This recognition demonstrates the tangible results of NCYU’s efforts to promote a green campus.
To achieve its energy conservation goals, NCYU’s Energy-Saving Initiative Committee regularly reviews campus energy use, identifies areas of high energy consumption, and develops improvement plans based on the specific needs of each facility. In recent years, the university has continued to replace aging and energy-intensive equipment, introduce LED lighting, upgrade air-conditioning systems, and strengthen energy management. By analyzing electricity use, planning improvements, and tracking implementation, NCYU has gradually established a systematic energy management framework, transforming energy conservation from isolated equipment upgrades into an integral part of daily campus governance.
In recent years, NCYU has actively secured central government funding to support campus energy conservation and the transition toward net-zero emissions. From 2022 to 2026, NCYU received support through programs from the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior, the Administration of Commerce of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Environment. These programs span areas ranging from smart water management and rainwater harvesting to low-carbon campuses, building energy efficiency, energy-efficient air-conditioning systems, sustainable agriculture using green hydrogen and green oxygen, and zero-waste biomass circulation. Together, they lay an interdisciplinary foundation for a sustainable “Green University.”
These energy-saving achievements are also reflected in improvements to NCYU’s energy mix. The share of green electricity used by NCYU increased from 6.6% in 2022 to 16.0% in 2023 and 19.5% in 2025. Through continued efforts in energy conservation, renewable energy generation, and smart energy management, NCYU continues to enhance its energy self-sufficiency and campus resilience. Looking ahead, NCYU plans to integrate microgrids with engineering technologies, smart energy, and AI applications while linking research across agriculture, forestry, environmental studies, and materials science. The university will incorporate achievements in smart energy, carbon sinks, natural resources, and circular economy into courses, student projects, internships, and talent development, shaping a distinctive interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research.
NCYU President Han-Chien Lin noted that addressing climate change and advancing the energy transition is a social responsibility that universities must undertake in pursuing sustainable development. NCYU is advancing its “Green University” initiative through a long-term development blueprint for 2026 to 2045, structured around “energy efficiency as the foundation, resilient microgrids as the backbone, zero-waste biomass circulation as the core, and smart agriculture as the application.” Through coordinated and integrated development tailored to the distinctive features of its four campuses, NCYU aims to progress from an “energy-saving campus” to a “resilient campus,” before moving toward zero-waste circulation. In doing so, the university will draw on its strengths in agricultural education and research to support the regional transition toward net zero.
Energy conservation and carbon reduction require long-term commitment and active participation from all faculty and students. NCYU will continue to refine electricity data analysis, smart monitoring, equipment upgrades, and energy conservation education, using this recognition as momentum for the campus energy transition. By building campus sustainability and resilience “one kilowatt-hour saved at a time,” NCYU is steadily moving toward its goal of becoming a low-carbon, green, smart, and resilient “Green University.”
Photo 1: Solar power generation systems with a
total installed capacity of 200.21 kWp.
Photo 2: A total of 48 air-conditioning control
units.
Photo 3: Replacement of 12 cooling water pumps
and chilled water pumps.
Photo 4: On-site inspection of an
air-conditioning equipment control panel.