From 31 May to 4 June, “EU Green Week 2021” takes place. The topic unifying the participants is an opportunity to reach zero waste by combining efforts.
The Zero Waste Action Plan of the European Union (EU) is an important European Green Deal document planned to be adopted in 2021. It will aid in creating an environment without toxic substances and ensuring better monitoring and reporting as well as stopping and eliminating air, water, soil, and consumer products’ pollution.
During the “EU Green Week”, other initiatives of the European Green Deal are considered as well. For example, the future chemicals strategy, as well as initiatives in the fields of climate, energy, manufacture, mobility, agriculture, fishery, healthcare, and biological diversity.
VILNIUS TECH contributes to the reduction of environmental pollution
The Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) also contributes to the implementation of the “EU Green Week” initiative, and as early as last year has become a co-founder of a municipality-initiated sustainable and intelligent energy consortium “Intelligent Energy Lab”.
VILNIUS TECH participates in the Agreement on Climate Change concluded between Lithuanian universities, whereby, along with other Lithuanian universities, has undertaken to conduct a public progress assessment and monitoring.
A contribution to the development of the European green economy is one of the main tasks of the Advanced Technology Higher Education Network Alliance – ATHENA, whose member is VILNIUS TECH.
The university is also a member of Cleantech Cluster Lithuania that unites clean technology companies, science, and research institutions, and other entities that contribute with their professional knowledge, skills, business relations, reputation, and experience in pursuit of common goals of increasing the competitiveness of the cluster members and strengthening the image of Lithuania as a country of clean technologies.
Works carried out by university scientists and students are important for the prosperity and quality of life not only in Vilnius but in other Lithuanian cities and regions as well. During the recent years, they contributed significantly to the creation of a cleaner and greener environment: analysed air and water quality, soil pollution, waste reduction and recycling, offered vehicle pollution reduction solutions, consulted municipalities and companies of cities and regions of Klaipėda, Raseiniai, Rokiškis, Šiauliai, Visaginas regarding the reduction of CO2 in buildings and environmental pollution.
Renewal of buildings – according to newest standards
Striving to save energy resources, experts of VILNIUS TECH develop building renewal plans annually. The renovation of dormitories allowed saving the total of 45.2 per cent of energy resources. Compared with the pre-renovation use, the total amount of energy saved annually exceeds 1,118.14 thousand kWh.
In 2021-2022, two educational buildings in Saulėtekis are planned to be renovated thus improving the building energy efficiency to up to 60 per cent. In 2023-2024, two more buildings are planned to be renovated in order to efficiently utilize energy resources – one educational, and another one housing laboratories.
For the design and construction of a new VILNIUS TECH science and study complex under construction for the faculties of Electronics, Mechanics, and Transport Engineering, BIM technologies are used. The developed digital models of buildings will aid in operating these buildings and their engineering systems efficiently.
