Green Initiatives

The Perspective Plan of our college is shaped on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – 2015. Green initiatives of our college is aimed at supporting the sustainable development of our nation. The following are the green initiatives of our college during the period 2017-22:

Production of waste is inevitable. The college takes numerous initiatives to reduce / minimize waste generation by adopting the following strategies.

• Ban on the use of single - use plastic in the campus.
• Optimal utilization of resources by creating centralized / shared facilities instead of creation of facilities with sub-optimal utilization by individual / units of the college.
• Upgradation/ repair of existing equipment / computers instead of new purchase, if feasible.
• Managing organic waste in-house with vermicomposting technique.
• Use of discharge water from industrial RO plant to recharge the ponds near the entrance of the college.

To reduce the carbon footprint of the institution, the following measures have been taken up in the campus: solar power plant, Miyawaki forest and Spirulina cultivation.

i) Solar power plant

Installation of 25 kW solar power plants in the institution. The college is currently sourcing 6.9% of its energy needs locally from clean energy sources.

• Solar Electrical Energy contribution on Total Electrical energy - 6.9 %.
• 1kW roof top grid-interactive solar plant generates ~1500 units of electricity per year.
• By saving one unit of electricity 0.79 KG of CO2 emission is avoided.

ii) Miyawaki forest

Miyawaki forest is answer to cities which are turning to concrete jungles. Hence, the management of The Madura College jointly with Rotary Club of Madurai West planted 5500 saplings of 110 species of trees. The Rotary Club of Madurai West supported the institution for the soil testing, regulating the land, procuring samples and plantation.

The forest, spread out on an area of one acre, adjacent to TVS Block, act as green-lung for the region. It will help in promoting the local biodiversity by harboring native fauna.

iii) Spirulina cultivation

Spirulina cultivation is funded by Madura College Board and maintained by the Department of Biotechnology. Spirulina cultivation not only provides scope for entrepreneurial initiatives, it also is a green initiative aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the institution.

iv) LED and energy efficient / equipment for newer requirements

The college meets 20.25% of its lighting needs for LED energy efficient lighting.

v) Tree plantation in the campus

The college has a flora of 46 species of trees (totally 374), 62 herbal plants, 33 grasses and sedges, 21 shrubs and 25 climbers.

Energy Audit recommends ways to implement renewable energy systems & energy efficiency enhancement technologies thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint and to achieve carbon "net zero" emissions.

Green Audits can "add value" to the management approaches being taken by the college and is a way of identifying, evaluating and managing environmental risks. It also provides the scope of further improvements in the campus.

Environment Audit is a very powerful and valuable tool to be used to be convinced that systems and procedures in place are suited to cope with natural changes and modifications.

In this context Energy Audit, Green Audit and Environment Audit have been carried out periodically in order to take corrective measures for reducing the carbon foot print of the college environment.

The college has organized 24 awareness campaigns to create awareness on sustainability issues through outreach activities.

Link to green initiatives in college website:

https://www.maduracollege.edu.in/environment-intiative.php