**1. Introduction**

Environmental, social and ethical incidents are currently occurring more and more frequently worldwide, generating environmental costs and repercussions that are difficult to correct in the short and medium term. Up until now, academic research focusing on reducing the carbon footprint has not had a significant impact due to the lack of communication between society and the academic environment. This research study intends, on the one hand, to propose economically efficient solutions for improving the way in which academic institutions communicate their findings related to the reduction of the carbon footprint, and on the other hand, to involve the whole academic community in a dialogue with society at large. At the international level, applying the solutions proposed by this research can generate a sustainable micro environment in any academic unit.

Romania has been chosen for this case study because its living standard is considered to be one of the lowest within the European Union and because it is in dire need of improving various environmental-related aspects, in spite of having been the first Eastern European country to sign the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership.

The carbon footprint, which represents the most influential component of the ecological footprint [1], is the indicator that should be optimized in the short term in order to impact climate change in a positive manner. The metabolism of the environment is closely connected to the carbon footprint, which, in its turn, is influenced by the quantity of carbon released into the air, as part of the greenhouse gases. This indicator, which has recently started to be monitored, comes as a response to the people's need to perform their activity in a safe and sustainable environment, beneficial for both the current generation and the ones to come.

The objective of this paper is to prove that when trying to reach a global objective, small actions can have a strong impact due to their capacity to repair the erroneous approaches adopted in comfortable times. One of the main causes that carbon is released into the air we breathe is related to the instinctual or irresponsible type of consumption and this is true overall, not only when referring to Romania.

The economic efficiency model of sustainability, specifically the reduction of the carbon footprint, can be communicated through the empirical method of the example, by, which the academic communities demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of a lifestyle guided by the principles of sustainability.

During the first world conference on air pollution, which took place in Geneva in 2019, various statements were formulated about how people's health is affected by this type of pollution. The conference was jointly organized by the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Commission, and representatives of these institutions presented initiatives that gave humanity a series of objectives to reach by 2030, the main focus being that of having nearly zero carbon emissions.

At this moment, air pollution in households represents an important cause for why an increasing number of people are developing illnesses, such as various types of pneumonia or other infections of the lower respiratory tract, which is an indication for researchers that concrete solutions are necessary in order to meet the needs of the modern world.

In terms of deaths caused by air pollution, it has been proven that the emissions produced by industrial activity, cars and trucks have a higher impact on people than the air pollution in households.

Since the international and domestic legal framework oblige all the levels of society, public and private alike, to rationalize the use of resources (especially fossil fuels) and to reduce the current carbon levels, this is no longer a mere indication to change the approach used so far, but an emergency.

The first part of this paper offers an overview of the theoretical approaches of the past 50 years from three points of view—the historical perspective, the correlation with globalization and the importance of the carbon footprint of public buildings. Although these are not dwelling places, people spend around 8 h per day on average there.

The cost–benefit analysis for green buildings will then be compared and contrasted with the environmental cost–benefit analysis. This aspect was studied because the publications on this topic have been insufficiently turned to account in Romania, the present paper indicating a desire to evolve, to be proactive and to apply the proposed actions.

Green vertical facades are not new in the world, but it is a fact that they can ensure protection to a building, reduce its carbon footprint and bring many other benefits in a limited urban space. The trend of green vertical facades was popular in North America and Western Europe at the beginning of the 19th century, but the sun or acid rains destroy them over time, so due to the fact that their maintenance was not economically efficient at that moment the trend became unpopular [2] (pp. 423–236).

The academic literature mentions that noise pollution, urban heat pollution and air pollution can be mitigated through green facades, which can, moreover, bring energy-saving benefits [3–6].

Further on, the paper refers to public buildings. Two of the buildings in the complex of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (henceforth referred to as BUES) were chosen in order to demonstrate their green potential.

After the theoretical documentation and considering the results of the calculations, short conclusions have been drawn, highlighting the fact that when acting in a mature, informed and responsible manner, solutions can be found, adapted and applied.

The importance of this paper lies in the topical character of the research and in providing a solution to one of the most important challenges worldwide.

The research was based on several research platforms and calculators of the carbon footprint.

### **2. Materials and Methods**
