SDG 7.2.1

Sunway University adheres to its Sustainability Policy (2021, reviewed in 2025), which provides the overarching framework for embedding sustainability principles into all aspects of campus operations and development. Within this Policy; Section 5.2: Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation, Clause 5.2.2 specifically commits the University to ensuring that building projects are undertaken in a manner that reflects best practice in sustainable construction. 

Clause 5.2.2 Sustainability Policy (2021, reviewed in 2025):

All new building projects and major renovations will be designed to closely aligned to 
national and international green building certification standards.

It mandates that all building works will be designed to be closely aligned with both national and international green building certification standards. This clause reflects the University’s recognition that the built environment is a major contributor to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and that systematic integration of energy-efficiency standards into construction and renovation practices is critical to achieving long-term decarbonisation goals.

Sustainability Policy (2021, reviewed in 2025)

This commitment is operationalised through the University’s own Green Building Design Guidelines (2021), which apply comprehensively to all construction, renovation, or retrofitting of University spaces. The Guidelines set out practical requirements to ensure energy efficiency, including:

• Roof materials must achieve prescribed Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) values to minimise heat gain.
• Integration of renewable energy systems (e.g., solar PV) where feasible.
• Use of LED or high-frequency ballasts for all luminaires, with motion sensors in shared spaces to reduce energy wastage.
• HVAC efficiency measures, including automatic controls for fans and dampers.
• Sub-metering of water and energy usage, integrated into the Energy Monitoring System (EMS) or Building Management System (BMS) for optimisation and leak detection.
• Cooling towers and evaporative coolers with efficient drift eliminators and automated water controls; prohibition of once-through cooling with potable water.

Both the Policy and Guidelines are developed with reference to recognised standards, including:

• 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC)
• GreenRE certification standards
• Green Building Index (GBI) Malaysia
• MS 1525:2014 – Malaysian Code of Practice on Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy for Non-Residential Buildings
• LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Green Building Guidelines (2021)

Through this framework, Sunway University ensures that all construction, renovation, and retrofitting projects are planned and executed in accordance with energy-efficiency standards aligned with both national codes and international benchmarks, embedding energy efficiency and decarbonisation as fundamental principles of campus development.