Ashesi promotes and implements renewable energy and energy efficiency programs addressing climate action and resource use efficiency, through careful and regular monitoring. The most recent energy audit conducted in 2022 was based on an Ashesi conducted study on areas of high energy wastage to examine the 8.5% total solar PV electricity generated that is lost to the national grid. The study recommended the installation of Export Control Technology (ECT) and solar storage battery capacity of 552 kWh. The installation will be capable of capturing the total energy loss to the national grid, reduce grid electricity consumption and reduce cost of electricity consumption. The implementation has been included in Ashesi’s short term solar PV expansion strategy for 2023-2025. In the meantime, Ashesi has in place an Energy Efficiency review program which uses the installation of a US-based energy efficiency analyzer, with a weekly monitoring, measurement and reporting system.

Other practices Ashesi implements to review and reduce its energy wastage includes the following:
Ashesi avoids energy wastage by not pumping water from its boreholes for landscape irrigation, but instead reusing treated wastewater. It also avoids the use of energy from diesel generators to pump the equivalent amount from boreholes by the amount of rain water harvested ( presently 39-41%). Ashesi’s future plans include reducing the energy requirement of pumping water from borehole sources at 500m head through the use of 50% of total electricity consumption from renewable energy (Solar PV) by 2030.

Ashesi also educates its community on how to avoid energy wastage. It sensitises and brings awareness of Energy Efficiency (EE) practices to the community through various communication channels such as: publishing its environmental and social policy in a manner easily accessible to Staff and Students to promote the sustainability principles among all staff, students, the community and contractors; communicate and encourage staff, students, and contractors to apply the sustainability principles to all aspects of the University’s operation and its delivery of the curriculum and associated services; and sensitise & promote patronage of environmentally acceptable practices in the transport sector, including the use of mass transport, such as share of lifts, public transport, and school bus system to reduce transport/vehicular emissions per capita.

To reduce wastage further, Ashesi regularly services diesel-fired generators that use fossil fuels in order to optimise and maintain generation efficiency, that also minimises black emissions and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It also integrates green building concepts in the architectural design upfront e.g., natural solar light in green building design, and uses efficient lighting and appliances such as replacing all CFLs with LEDs and using only LEDs in new buildings. Presently installed is a 200 kW solar PVe which generates more than 10% of current total electricity consumption; thus, achieving the UNSE4ALL target of 10% minimum RE penetration. Ashesi captures and uses biogas (methane) from the anaerobic digester plant for cooking at the campus restaurants; converts and replaces methane emissions to carbon dioxide, which has less global warming potential.

Ashesi University began the implementation of its Renewable Energy (RE) program in the 4th Quarter of 2017. The program aims at increasing the penetration of RE to 40 per cent of total electricity consumption. Presently it accounts for 13-15% of total grid electricity consumption. Ashesi recognizes the role universities have to play in combating climate change especially through clean and renewable energy and this is reflected in its Environmental & Social Management; Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency; and Divestment Policies. As a result, the University’s architectural setup incorporates green building concepts as key adaptation response measures to increase the campus resilience to increasing temperatures and the heat stress as a result of global warming. In addition to the extensive (soft) landscaping and ventilated eaves and roofs, all aged generators have been decommissioned, with effective preventative maintenance measures for all existing generators to optimise efficiency.

This strong maintenance culture minimises GHG and black carbon emissions as part of our Environmental Social and Action Plans (ESAP), in strong compliance with IFC requirements. Grid electricity is heavily subsidised by renewable energy sources i.e., Solar PVe and solar water heaters. Under Ashesi’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy policy, campus energy audits are mandatory. This effort to champion clean energy resources has influenced the local traditional authorities to install roof top solar PVe on the Chief’s palace in Berekuso, where Ashesi is located. The chief’s project is being used to create awareness in the local community for potential adoption and uptake by members of the community.