The Universal Business School (UBS) of Mumbai which is also India’s first Green Business School has now taken one more concrete step towards sustainable living.
The B School has recently installed 355 kWh (kilowatt-power) roof-top solar panels and carport solar panels across its large campus spread over 40 acres. The solar energy generated by the 912 solar panels can light up classrooms, auditoriums, playground and canteen as well.
“We hope to produce more green power with the help of this initiative. On International Earth day, it is important to reflect on how we survived 2020 with the monstrosity of the pandemic and the warnings from environmentalists about the dangers of climate change that have become louder over the past few years. UBS is not just energy efficient but also sets an example of sustainable living for our students,” shares Tarun Anand, Founder and Chairman of Universal Business School.
In the last few years UBS has adopted several initiatives such as rain water harvesting, garbage recycling through sewage treatment plants, planting 7000 trees across the campus and even keeping electives like Green Financing and Green Manufacturing and Sustainability Management for the students.
Talking about the solar power panels Professor Sriram Ramnarayan said, “We require 4000 kWh of energy in a year. By switching to solar power we are comfortably meeting our energy demand and also shrink our carbon footprint.”
India’s first green school
Universal Business School is one of the most innovative business schools in India. It offers pioneering programs, entrepreneurial experiences at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It has academic tie ups with Cardiff Met. University, UK, Swiss School of Management, Italy, INSEEC Business School, France, University of Economics, Bulgaria and Lincoln University, USA.
The B School is spread over 40 acres in the Green Karjat valley, offering a second home to the brightest young minds. It is the first school in Asia Pacific to have an exclusive Thomson Reuters Cross Asset Trading Room. Its alumni are leading professionals across twenty different nations.
UBS follows the 3E Model of Ethics, Environment and Experiential learning. “Our students placed across 20 nations can connect the dots looking forward”, sums up Tarun Anand, Founder and Chairman.
Some innovative green initiatives
The Universal Business School has taken several steps to ensure an eco-friendly surrounding and a sustainable future for its students.
The main academic center and library have double heighted ceilings to allow for the wind tunnel effect to flow through allowing for reduction of cooling needs and reduction of energy. The wall cladding has been done with space between the exterior and interior surface to ensure that the heat from outside does not penetrate inside to ensure that the cooling requirements are down to the minimum and saves tremendous energy.
Moreover, UBS has used double glazed glass, with two sheets of glass pressed together to ensure that external heat is not transmitted internally, thereby reducing the cooling requirements and making it a climate friendly building.
Construction materials like bricks, stone have been sourced from the local villages reducing the need for transportation, thereby contributing to less carbon emissions. 40 percent of the campus will have no construction and will practice organic farming as well.
Rain Water Harvesting at the campus ensures that water is conserved and reused. Retaining walls and mini-dams have also been created to conserve water. There are two sewage treatment plants at either ends of the campus.
Over 7000 trees have been planted. Each student will plant a tree and thereby, is connected to mother earth and their alma mater. The objective is to plant 10000 trees in the campus. The original flora and fauna has been kept intact and has been enhanced in many ways.
The classrooms have facilities to ensure video conferencing and live debates with professors internationally to ensure that minimal travel is required and information can be imparted virtually. Since UBS is a fully residential campus; it ensures students do not have to take public transportation, reducing carbon emissions. UBS has started electric mobility on campus and aims to increase it in future as the technology improves.
Think green
Green thinking is integrated in every subject whether finance, marketing or production. The implications of each green decision are actively debated allowing for students to get a better understanding and enable them to take more effective and sustainable decisions. There are electives like Green Financing and Green Manufacturing and Sustainability Management.
Every student will be assigned a Societal-causes Management and Responsibility Training (SMART) project where they will be required to adopt any village located nearby and implement their green thinking ideas.
Thus Universal Business School has started out with an innovative approach. It would act as a role model for other schools in days to come.
