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> News > Universitas Sumatera Utara Implements Water-Efficient Building Design Across Campus

Universitas Sumatera Utara Implements Water-Efficient Building Design Across Campus

Published At

12 November 2024

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More than a compliance exercise, USU’s green building approach reflects the belief that design choices are climate actions. By lowering dependence on potable water, maximising the use of harvested rainwater, and promoting water reuse, the university reduces its ecological footprint and nurtures a culture of sustainability within the academic community.

Medan, Indonesia, 12 November 2024. As part of its long-term sustainability strategy, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has integrated green building principles into all stages of campus construction and renovation. These principles prioritise water efficiency, energy conservation, and sustainable resource use, ensuring that every physical development on campus supports environmental responsibility and strengthens operational resilience.

According to the 2024 UI GreenMetric Report, one of the main indicators used globally for assessing universities, EC.6 (Elements of Green Building Implementation), evaluates how far institutions commit to environmentally efficient building design. At USU, this commitment is translated into binding policies that apply to all new construction and renovation projects, underscoring the university’s leadership in sustainable campus planning.

Water-efficient infrastructure and smart design

To achieve its green infrastructure targets, USU applies a range of water-saving technologies and engineering solutions across the campus, including:

  • Use of water-efficient fixtures, such as sensor-activated taps, low-flow toilets, and automatic irrigation systems for landscaped areas.
  • Integration of rainwater harvesting systems and greywater recycling networks in modern buildings like the Digital Learning Center, where treated water is reused for toilet flushing and garden irrigation.
  • Enforcement of construction and renovation guidelines that require projects to limit potable water use, optimise rainwater capture, and incorporate wastewater reuse into each project’s sustainability assessment.

Through these practical measures, every new or upgraded building contributes to reducing total campus water consumption, while maintaining high standards of comfort, safety, and usability for its occupants.

Alignment with global and institutional sustainability frameworks

USU’s construction and renovation policies directly support several indicators within the UI GreenMetric sustainability framework, particularly:

  • WR.3 – Water Efficient Appliances Usage
  • WR.1 – Water Conservation Program and Implementation

These benchmarks guide the university in embedding resource efficiency into building design, daily operations, and long-term maintenance. Although specific certification schemes such as SNI Green Building or LEED are not cited by name, USU’s adherence to UI GreenMetric criteria and its own internal sustainability mandates effectively reflects the intent and spirit of such standards.

This alignment shows that environmental considerations, especially water conservation, are formally integrated into architectural planning, budgeting processes, and infrastructure development across the institution.

Sustainability by design

More than a compliance exercise, USU’s green building approach reflects the belief that design choices are climate actions. By lowering dependence on potable water, maximising the use of harvested rainwater, and promoting water reuse, the university reduces its ecological footprint and nurtures a culture of sustainability within the academic community.

Each new facility, whether from lecture theatres to laboratories, acts as a living demonstration of how thoughtful design and responsible construction can advance both environmental stewardship and educational quality.

Through these continuous efforts, Universitas Sumatera Utara is strengthening its position as a model for sustainable campus infrastructure, showing that green building principles are not optional add-ons but an essential foundation for a resilient and resource-efficient future.

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