To improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings, the University is systematically upgrading its high-energy-consuming equipment. The measures include:
- Updating the inventory of major energy-consuming equipment and prioritizing replacements under the ISO 50001 energy management system.
Chung Yuan is committed to environmental sustainability and to using energy more efficiently, with the aim of building a low-carbon, green campus that supports the sustainable development goals. Campus conservation is one of the most effective ways to do this. The University has built consensus among faculty and students on energy-saving measures, taken a proactive approach, put forward specific implementation plans, and encouraged every unit to work toward negative growth in energy use, with the goal of a “Net Zero” campus. Building energy efficiency is an important part of energy management. The University applies the EEWH green building evaluation system and labeling scheme to improve energy performance in areas such as the building envelope, air conditioning, and lighting. At the same time, it uses its energy management plan, analysis of energy consumption data, and equipment optimization to understand energy use accurately and keep improving it. The four main energy-saving tasks (shown in the figure) lay the groundwork for a campus that values both high efficiency and sustainability.
- Replacing old air-conditioning systems with high-efficiency inverter units or more efficient central systems.
Air-conditioning systems are the main source of energy consumption in campus buildings. New equipment is more efficient, but replacing large central air-conditioning systems is expensive, so replacing everything at once is difficult. The University has therefore adopted a phased, multiyear replacement strategy and introduced power-saving equipment at the same time to improve energy efficiency.
For equipment replacement, priority goes to swapping old fixed-frequency air conditioners for inverter models and upgrading air-cooled central chillers to water-cooled systems, which can save more than 30% of energy.
Inverter modules and cooling tower descaling devices have also been installed on existing equipment to improve operating efficiency and heat dissipation, which raises overall electricity savings by a further 10% or more. Inverter air conditioners provide stable output instead of frequent starting and stopping, which reduces energy consumption, and cooling towers exchange heat more efficiently when scale buildup is reduced. For cost-effectiveness, these measures are being introduced first on systems above 100 RT, and the savings are being extended gradually.
- Upgrading all indoor and outdoor lighting to LED.
Lighting fixtures are being replaced with LEDs. With government energy-saving subsidies, Chung Yuan has replaced them building by building since 2019. As of 2025, 26,289 fixtures had been replaced, about 94% of the total. Except for a few rarely used spaces such as equipment rooms and storage rooms, where fixtures will be replaced when they fail, all remaining fixtures are scheduled for replacement by 2028. Outdoor walkway lighting was replaced or supplemented with LEDs year by year, and the full replacement was completed in 2024.
- In 2023, the University signed lease agreements with a solar photovoltaic (PV) company to install solar panels at four sites: the rooftops of the Gymnasium and Huaien Building, the basketball and volleyball courts behind the Olympic torch, and the motorcycle parking area at the Membrane Research Center. The installations total 1,510.08 kWp of solar PV capacity. All four sites were connected to the grid and began generating power in October 2024. The PV-covered sports courts and parking canopies also give faculty and students shelter from sun and rain for sports and parking.