Sustainable Campus Policy

All campuses of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham continue to undergo rigorous assessment against the sustainability goals outlined in the 2024 Policy. The revised policy reinforces monitoring across environmental, social, and operational indicators, ensuring that every campus minimizes environmental impact while promoting responsible resource use.

Major Outcomes 

Amrita’s campuses follow the 2024 Sustainable Water Policy which emphasizes water-efficient fixtures, granular monitoring, rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and advanced wastewater recycling systems.

Key 2024 Water Management Highlights

• Comprehensive Water Metering & Monitoring: Expanded installation of campus-wide water meters and automated systems for real-time consumption tracking.
• Greywater & Wastewater Reuse:
  The policy requires treating and reusing wastewater for irrigation, toilet flushing, cooling systems, and construction needs, with high compliance across campuses.
• Rainwater Harvesting:
  Rainwater capture systems integrated with recharge structures across all campus locations.
• Pollution Prevention Measures:
  Strengthened risk assessments, emergency response protocols, spill-prevention infrastructure, and water-quality monitoring aligned with BIS 2012 standards.

Wastewater Treatment & Reuse (2024)

• All campuses must operate advanced wastewater treatment plants using chemical-free processes.
• Treated water must meet or exceed national effluent standards and be reused for irrigation, flushing, and cooling.
• Wastewater recycling, dual plumbing, and decentralized greywater treatment are mandatory components across campuses.

Amrita has expanded its renewable energy and energy-efficiency focus under the 2024 Sustainable Energy Management Policy. Key enactments include:

• Energy-efficient lighting across campuses (LED, motion sensors).
• Smart building automation for lighting and thermal comfort.
• Floor-wise and room-wise energy monitoring.
• Expanded renewable energy integration (solar, wind where feasible).
• Increased training and awareness initiatives.

The policy reinforces the requirement for:

• Carbon accounting systems on each campus.
• Publishing regular updates for stakeholders.
• Procurement guidelines favoring low-carbon vendors.
• Adoption of EV charging infrastructure and conversion of vehicle fleets to EV/CNG.
• Campus-level carbon sequestration through increased green cover.

These measures are outlined in the Divestment from Carbon-Intensive Energy Industries Policy .

Major Carbon & Emission Reduction Activities

The policy mandates stronger systems for:

• EV fleet expansion & charging stations
• Carpooling incentives
• Low-carbon procurement
• Expansion of green cover & biodiversity zones
• Renewable energy obligations
• Mandatory energy conservation features in all new buildings

The policy mandates and expands multiple sustainability frameworks:

Green Building Requirements

All new buildings must follow:

• Climate-responsive design (per Green Building Guidelines)
• Renewable energy integration
• Low-flow water fixtures
• ECBC-compliant energy systems
• Green roofs and high-SRI materials
• STP integration & dual plumbing 

Construction and Demolition Waste Policy (2024)

• Mandatory reuse of materials
• On-site segregation
• Training for staff
• Material recovery facilities

Green Building Certification

The policy continues to emphasize recognized green building certifications:

• LEED
• IGBC
• GRIHA

The update includes several compassion-driven sustainability strategies across departments, faculty, and students:

• Integration of sustainability into curriculum and research
• Awareness campaigns led by departments
• Recognition programs for green initiatives
• Zero-waste and energy-efficient laboratory operations
• Student engagement & leadership opportunities

The policy outlines detailed requirements for annual sustainability reporting, including:

• Tracking energy, water, waste, biodiversity, and transportation indicators
• Reporting green infrastructure & certifications
• Monitoring sustainability KPIs
• Transparency with stakeholders
• Assessing long-term financial, environmental, and social sustainability impacts 

The 2024 Sustainable Campus Policy strengthens Amrita’s commitment to environmental responsibility, expanding its sustainability scope to additional campuses and reinforcing standards for water stewardship, clean energy, waste reduction, sustainable mobility, biodiversity enhancement, and green construction. These efforts align with Amrita’s vision of fostering a sustainable, resilient, and compassionate educational ecosystem.