Semarang – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development through research on Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and electricity-related carbon emissions across its campus buildings. The findings have been published in the internationally reputable journal Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology (EEET), which is indexed in Scopus Q3.
The research was conducted by Prof. Dr. Sri Ngabekti, Trida Ridho Fariz, Prof. Dr. Dewi Liesnoor Setyowati, and Maulana Malik Wicaksono. The study focused on analyzing electricity consumption, carbon emissions, and the role of campus vegetation in carbon sequestration to support Indonesia’s Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060 target.
According to the research team, the building sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, universities play a strategic role as living laboratories by implementing energy efficiency measures and managing green open spaces as part of climate change mitigation efforts. The study at FMIPA UNNES revealed that laboratory buildings recorded the highest electricity consumption and carbon emissions among all campus buildings, making them a priority for energy-saving initiatives.
In addition to the international publication, the research also served as the basis for the undergraduate thesis of Maulana Malik Wicaksono, which examined electricity consumption and carbon balance at FMIPA UNNES. The thesis aimed to analyze energy consumption and Energy Use Intensity (EUI) under various scenarios, carbon footprint, and the carbon sequestration capacity of campus vegetation to evaluate the campus carbon balance.
The results showed that laboratory buildings consumed the highest amount of electricity, averaging 6,916.94 kWh per month. Meanwhile, Laboratory Building D12 recorded the highest EUI of 10.08 kWh/m²/month, which still falls within the efficient category. Under the energy-saving scenario, all campus buildings achieved the very efficient category, demonstrating significant potential for reducing electricity consumption across the campus.
In terms of carbon emissions, the study found that the existing condition generated 52,680 kgCO₂eq. Under a wasteful energy consumption scenario, emissions could increase to 71,269.76 kgCO₂eq, whereas implementing energy efficiency measures could reduce emissions to 39,715.93 kgCO₂eq.
Remarkably, the existing trees across the FMIPA campus possess a carbon sequestration capacity of 1,067,414.24 kgCO₂eq, far exceeding the carbon emissions generated by electricity consumption. As a result, the campus achieved a negative carbon balance, indicating that the carbon absorbed by the existing vegetation is sufficient to offset and even surpass the carbon emissions produced from electricity use.
The findings are expected to serve as a valuable reference for other higher education institutions in developing energy management policies and promoting sustainable campus development. Furthermore, the study contributes directly to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) through improved energy efficiency, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through sustainable green space management, SDG 13 (Climate Action) through carbon emission reduction and enhanced carbon sequestration, and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through the conservation of campus vegetation as a natural carbon sink.
