Title:
Green buildings in Chilean public higher education: a trend or a must-have in university strategic guidelines?
Authors:
Claudia Mac-lean, GAIA Antarctic Research Centre, University of Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
Pablo Núñez-Cárdenas, Horticulture & Floriculture Centre, Institute of Patagonia, University of Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
Bárbara Rodríguez, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
&
Cristian Aldea, GAIA Antarctic Research Centre, University of Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile; Department of Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
Published:
International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 3 July 2022
Abstract:
Green buildings have gained increasing relevance and market share in recent decades. Also, higher education institutions are progressively incorporating the conceptualisation of sustainable development by greening campuses. Thus, given the construction sector relevance in climate change mitigation and the role universities have to play as models for society, the purpose of the present paper is twofold. First, the authors develop a baseline study to determine the extent to which green buildings’ features and certifications are being incorporated in public Chilean higher education institutions, as a first of its kind effort in the higher education sector in Chile. Second, the authors explore the opportunities that can support the advancement of campus greening through green buildings deployment on university campuses in Chile. This study follows a qualitative strategy approach in the form of a survey design based on the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking that was administered through an online questionnaire to representatives who hold the position of Sustainability or Infrastructure Heads in public universities, which are united in the Chilean State Universities Consortium. The main findings suggest a general maturation process of green building features´ incorporation on campuses at Chilean public higher education institutions in early or transitional stages. The leading indicators relate to open space, pedestrian paths, and efficient appliances, whereas the reported performance is lower with respect to sustainability budget, zero emission vehicles, and greenhouse gas emission reduction programmes. The opportunities identified for promoting the implementation of green buildings relate to three entrenched dimensions: research, promotion, and public policy.