**5. Discussion**

The UAH's experience over 17 years of initiatives between 2003 and 2019 sugges<sup>t</sup> that the energy efficiency policies should be stepped up in accordance with four basic lines of action:


To this end, in 2014 a cooperation contract was signed by the public sector (the University) and the private sector to execute a global, integrated project for the interior lighting of the UAH's buildings and installations and its external campus's road. The idea was to improve energy e fficiency in terms of lighting, to reduce energy consumption, and/or to create energy generating systems for either sale or self-consumption, thereby helping to cut the UAH's energy bill. This e ffort has resulted in a twelve-year contract worth EUR 7 million of private funding to be financed essentially through savings achieved in energy consumption. When all initiatives are 100 percent operative, there will be an annual saving of KWH 3.9, amounting to a saving of more than EUR 200,000 in direct costs to the University over the ten years that the project lasts. The project rests on four basic pillars (Figure 9) [37].

**Figure 9.** UAH's strategy regarding energy e fficiency. Source: Own elaboration.

Pillar 1. Improvements and renovation work.

A series of initiatives has been envisaged on three fronts:


#### Pillar 2. Centralized energy management.

Initiatives are under way to:


Pillar 3. Renewable energies.

The UAH has a significant tradition of commitment to renewable energies: geothermal energy, trigeneration, and solar panels are only some examples. Despite the scarcity of funds for investment and the absence of a stable regulatory framework, the UAH remains steadfast in its commitment to renewable energies on two fronts:


#### Pillar 4. Certification.

Introduction of an ISO 50001 EMS, to develop and implement the energy policy and manage all elements of UAH activities and all products or services that impinge on energy use (energy aspects).

The EMS, in conjunction with ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 9001 (quality) managemen<sup>t</sup> models, aims to achieve ongoing improvement in energy use and associated costs, the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the proper use of natural resources, and the promotion of renewable energies.

The EMS is recommended for organizations wishing to show publicly the implementation of an EMS, their better use of either renewable or surplus energies, and the systematization of their processes in consonance with their energy policy. Thus, for the UAH, it is of vital importance that this ISO 50001 EMS be implemented, as it will be its energy and environmental blueprint for the years to come.
