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sustainability
Article
Developing a Novel Index for Assessing and Managing the
Contribution of Sustainable Campuses to Achieve UN SDGs
Rami Alawneh 1, *, Ismael Jannoud 1, Hesham Rabayah 1and Hikmat Ali 2
Citation: Alawneh, R.; Jannoud, I.;
Rabayah, H.; Ali, H. Developing a
Novel Index for Assessing and
Managing the Contribution of
Sustainable Campuses to Achieve UN
SDGs. Sustainability 2021,13, 11770.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111770
Academic Editor: Eila Jeronen
Received: 26 August 2021
Accepted: 15 October 2021
Published: 25 October 2021
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Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
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4.0/).
1Department of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130,
Amman 11733, Jordan; Ismael.jannoud@zuj.edu.jo (I.J.); H.Ahmad@zuj.edu.jo (H.R.)
2Department of Architecture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 21110, Jordan;
hikmat@just.edu.jo
*Correspondence: r.alawneh@zuj.edu.jo or ramialawneh21@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Sustainable campuses have a substantial role to play in achieving the Sustainable Develop-
ment Goals (SDGs). Worldwide, there are many rating schemes to assess universities’ sustainability;
UI GreenMetric is one of the most common global rating schemes aimed at encouraging green
campuses and university sustainability worldwide. However, none of the existing rating schemes
quantitatively measure the contributions of the implementation of its assessment indicators to achieve
SDGs. There is a shortage of information on how sustainable campuses contribute to achieving
SDGs. Thus, this research aimed to develop a novel index to assess and manage the contributions
of sustainable campuses certified by UI GreenMetric to achieve SDGs. This article proposes novel
indices, the GreenMetric Indicator Contribution Index (GMICI) and the GreenMetric Sustainable
Campus Index (GMSCI), to evaluate the contributions of implementing UI GreenMetric indicators for
achieving the SDGs. By implementing questionnaire surveys, we collected the relevant data. Struc-
tured questionnaire surveys yielded 35 responses from experts. The contributions of UI GreenMetric
indicators to achieving SDGs were evaluated using the Relative Importance Index (RII). The results
indicated an important relationship between the GreenMetric indicator and SDGs 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9,11, 12,
13 and 15. This research concludes that the proposed GMICI and GMSCI are a rigorous means for
evaluating the contribution of UI GreenMetric indicators to UN-SDGs’ achievement.
Keywords:
sustainable campus; UI GreenMetric; United Nations; Sustainable Development Goals; index
1. Introduction
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all the United Nations
(UN) Member States in 2015 as an international call for action to alleviate hunger, protect the
environment, and ensure that all citizens can achieve stability and prosperity by
2030 [1–3].
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are interconnected; they agree that decisions made
in one field have an impact on results in others, and that development must find the
right balance between social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The success of
the SDGs requires the engagement of states, the business sector, and public society and
individuals alike to ensure that a healthier world is left to future generations [1–4].
There is a dual need to recognize sustainability in universities [
5
]. Firstly, universities
can be regarded as “small cities” because of their operations; the transportation of people
and goods inside can have significant environmental impacts. In terms of waste production,
transport, use of water and materials, and energy and electricity use, universities can be
seen as complex buildings, due to the scientific, social, and educational activities occurring
inside their borders [
6
]. From this point of view, campuses’ externalities on environmental
protection and dignity should no longer be neglected [
7
,
8
]. Secondly, with a view of
the move toward sustainability, universities play a crucial role in society, creating new
generations and training professionals [9].
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Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 2 of 16
Thus far, the literature has documented numerous methods in which universities have
incorporated sustainability into various dimensions of their operations. The institutional
framework, campus operations, teaching, research, community involvement, and account-
ability and reporting are examples of such dimensions. From a theoretical standpoint,
scholars have stated that when a university implements sustainability across all of these
aspects, it may be called “sustainable” or, in a similar sense, “green” [10,11].
Sustainable campus activities necessitate the implementation of practices that promote
energy conservation and sustainable power production; sustainable transportation, such
as encouraging the usage of bicycles, carpooling, and public transit; waste management;
sustainable building construction and adaptation; water supply management; and health
and safety [
12
–
18
]. Higher education institutions serve as relevant higher education living
laboratories by generating shared knowledge; integrating society and campus stakeholders;
and addressing local and global social, economic, and environmental issues through the
implementation of sustainable practices and the creation of cooperative environments;
outreach programs; and water, electricity, and productive food campuses [19].
Numerous universities in developed countries have become mindful of this envi-
ronmental problem and have gained importance in introducing and enforcing strategies
for green and sustainable campuses [
20
]. However, the largest number of universities
participating in all fields of sustainability are in the United States of America and the
United Kingdom [20].
University campuses should serve as test beds for comprehensive approaches toward
(re)design, landscape regeneration, citizen engagement, and governance, as well as offering
valuable lessons and expertise for broader initiatives. Transforming university campuses
into sustainable organizations, as opposed to simply organizations with sustainability pro-
grams, provides programmatic models and strategies that can be tailored to the much more
nuanced and challenging project of urban sustainability [
21
]. For more than two decades,
universities have indeed been increasingly regarded as major contributors to national
sustainability initiatives. Due to the multifaceted existence of sustainable development
(SD), universities have been designated as vital collaborators in all related efforts, often in
close cooperation with other key communities [
22
]. Universities have a significant impact
on society in two ways: they prepare and teach people and they engage in national and
regional government [
23
]. Universities must help in addressing the major challenges of the
21st century, such as increased environmental and socioeconomic pressures, unequal wages
in nations, and global uncertainty. To do so, they should incorporate the idea of sustainable
growth into future organizations, science, and education by preparing experts with the
expertise, competencies, and skills needed to address ecological, social, and economic
challenges in society as a whole [
24
]. A sustainable university has been described as an ed-
ucational organization that is concerned with the minimizing of the adverse environmental,
societal, and health impacts of resources to fulfill its research, outreach, and citizenship
function, as well as addressing any socioeconomic and community problems that arise on
a global level.
Numerous assessments of campus sustainability have been developed on national
and international levels around the world over the last decade in order to evaluate and
recognize universities that have made strong contributions to sustainability efforts [25].
Universities as a whole, and university personnel in particular, should strive to
maximize the many benefits offered by the SDGs, not just in terms of teaching and research,
but also in terms of outreach programs and serve as advocates for public support for
the SDGs [
26
]. There is still a significant gap in the specificity of worldwide university
sustainability rankings that needs to be addressed [27].
A literature review revealed that there are currently few standards or frameworks
for consistently integrating the SDGs into university programs. Therefore, a framework
is needed to facilitate a more comprehensive integration of the SDGs into university
programs [
28
]. There is a recognized need to create frameworks, methods, and tools
that can assist higher education institutions in consistently incorporating the Sustainable
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 3 of 16
Development Goals (SDGs) into their research and teaching as a core component of their
programs. Today, however, research is lacking on the most efficient methods for this
purpose [28].
The association between existing sustainable campuses assessment indicators and UN
SDGs is currently not explained in terms of evaluating sustainable campuses. Study on this
subject is lacking. Furthermore, the contribution of sustainable campuses to achieving the
UN SDGs is not previously quantitively measured. This research used the UI GreenMetric
World University Rankings [
29
], which have been the subject of numerous studies. Hence,
the aim of this research was to develop a new index for assessing and managing the
contributions of sustainable campuses certified by UI GreenMetric to achieve UN SDGs.
The main objectives were as follows:
1.
Identifying the relationship between the UI GreenMetric assessment indicator and
UN SDGs.
2.
Developing a new index for evaluating and managing the contributions of UI
GreenMetric-certified sustainable campuses to achieving the UN SDGs.
Section 2follows this introduction and reviews the relevant literature related to the
relationship between UI GreenMetric assessment indicators and UN SDGs. Section 3
outlines the methods used in this research. The findings and discussion are presented in
Sections 4and 5, respectively. Finally, Section 6provides the conclusion.
2. Literature Review (UI GreenMetric and Sustainable Development Goals)
The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings were created in 2010 as a tool to assist
the development of green universities [
25
]. The UI GreenMetric is a rating that shows how
universities rank in terms of sustainability [30].
Since its establishment, the UI GreenMetric rating has been generally recognized as
the first of its type, addressing sustainability problems on university campuses [31].
The UI GreenMetric ranking is focused on quantitative criteria rather than country-
specific sustainability report methods. Furthermore, it reports sustainability metrics on
the basis of a predefined set of criteria. This enables the comparison of university results
(as communicated through self-completion questionnaires and the retrieval of public data
display) in the same ranking [32].
Table 1shows UI GreenMetric as categories and indicators. The rankings evaluate
universities according to six categories: “university landscape (setting and infrastructure)”,
“electricity consumption (energy and climate change)”, “waste management”, “water
preservation”, “green transportation for the public”, and “education and research related
to sustainability” [33].
The UI GreenMetric has been recognized internationally as being an easy and usable
sustainability rating that serves as a reference and guide, especially in helping universi-
ties create sustainable universities and sustainable futures in developed and developing
countries [
25
]. Among the various sustainability measures, the literature review highlights
GreenMetric as one of the most powerful tools for evaluating sustainability [
34
]. However,
universities may only strive for success on the basis of ranking indicators. Nonetheless,
they should strive for broader goals such as the SDGs, since there is a strong interconnection
between the GreenMetric methodology and UN SDGSs [31]. Table 2shows the UN SDGs.
According to Suwartha and Berawi [
33
], most of the SDGs shown in Table 2are
relevant to the GreenMetric categories, such as SDG3, 12, and 14 for the waste management
category; SDG4 for the education and research category; SDG9 and 11 for the setting and
infrastructure category; SDG6 for the water preservation category; SDG7, 12, and 13 for
the energy and climate change category; and SDG13 and 15 for the green transportation
category [33].
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 4 of 16
Table 1. UI GreenMetric categories and indicators.
The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings
Category Indicator
Setting
and infrastructure (SI)
SI.1 The ratio of open space area towards total area
SI.2 Area on campus covered in forest
SI.3 Area on campus covered in planted vegetation
SI.4 Area on campus for water absorbance
SI.5 The ratio of open space area divided campus population
SI.6 University budget for sustainability effort
Energy
and climate change (EC)
EC.1
Energy efficient appliances usage
EC.2
Smart building program implementation
EC.3
Number of renewable energy source in campus
EC.4 The total electricity usage divided by total campus population
EC.5
The ratio of renewable energy production towards total
energy usage per year
EC.6
Element of green building implementation
EC.7
Greenhouse gas emission reduction program
EC.8
The ratio of total carbon footprint divided campus population
Waste (WS)
WS.1
Recycling program for university waste
WS.2
Program to reduce the use of paper and plastic in campus
WS.3
Organic waste treatment
WS.4
Inorganic waste treatment
WS.5
Toxic waste treatment
WS.6
Sewerage disposal
Water (WR)
WR.1
Water conservation program
WR.2
Water recycling program
WR.3
The use of water efficient appliances
WR.4
Piped water consumed
Transportation (TR)
TR.1
The ratio of total vehicles (cars and motorcycles) divided
by total campus population
TR.2
Shuttle services
TR.3
Zero emission vehicles (ZEV) policy on campus 200 200 200
TR 6 transportation program designed to limit or decrease
TR.4
the ratio of zero emission vehicles (ZEV) divided by total
campus population
TR.5
Ratio of parking area to total campus area
TR.6
Transportation program designed to limit or decrease
the parking area on campus for the last 3 years
TR.7
Number of transportation initiatives to decrease private
vehicles on campus
TR.8
Pedestrian policy on campus
Education (ED)
ED.1
The ratio of sustainability courses towards total
courses/subjects
ED.2
The ratio of sustainability research funding towards total
research funding
ED.3
Sustainability publications
ED.4
Sustainability events
ED.5
Sustainability student organizations
ED.6
Sustainability website
ED.7
Sustainability report
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 5 of 16
Table 2. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG #1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
SDG #2
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable
agriculture.
SDG #3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
SDG #4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all.
SDG #5 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
SDG #6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
SDG #7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
SDG #8 Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth; full
and productive employment; and decent work for all.
SDG #9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization, and foster innovation.
SDG #10 Reduce inequality within and among countries.
SDG #11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
SDG #12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
SDG #13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
SDG #14 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources
for sustainable development.
SDG #15
Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems;
sustainably manage forests; combat desertification; and halt and reverse land
degradation as well as biodiversity loss.
SDG #16
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; provide
access to justice for all; and build effective, accountable, and inclusive
institutions at all levels.
SDG #17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for
Sustainable Development.
Similarly, Hamzah et al. [
35
] affirmed that the UI GreenMetric system’s categories are
closely matched with the UN SDGs. These matches include the following: (1) the setting
and infrastructure (SI) category, which is related to SDG9 and SDG11; (2) the energy and
climate change (EC) category, which is related to SDG7 and SDG13; (3) the waste (WS)
category, which is related to SDG3 and SDG14; (4) the water (WR) category, which is related
to SDG6; (5) the transportation (TR) category, which is related to SDG13 and SDG15; and
(6) the education (ED) category, which is related to SDG4 [35].
Higher education institutions (HEIs) have been urged to combine the pursuit of
sustainability with a commitment to the SDGs. This dedication must be present at the
strategic level of planning and then be put into action in order for their efforts to be more
effective. Despite the significance of the subject, there is a scarcity of research on the SDGs
at the strategic level of universities [36].
On the basis of the literature review, this study tested the following main hypothesis:
there is a significant relationship between the UN SDGs and UI GreenMetric assessment
indicators.
3. Methods
The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between
the UI GreenMetric assessment indicators and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and
to develop a novel index for assessing and managing the contributions of UI GreenMetric-
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 6 of 16
certified sustainable campuses to the UN SDGs. Therefore, the research methodology
included developing the main hypothesis on the basis of the review of relevant literature,
as mentioned in Section 2. Then, we collected data about UI GreenMetric assessment
indicators and case study. A questionnaire was developed and delivered to the intended
audience. A survey was used to collect data, then evaluated using frequencies, means,
statistics, p-values, and the Relative Importance Index (RII). Contribution indices were con-
structed. The contribution indices were used to evaluate the contributions of Al Zaytoonah
University of Jordan’s UI GreenMetric-certified sustainable campus to achieving the UN
SDGs.
3.1. Data Collection
Data concerning UI GreenMetric indicators and concerning the case study, Al Zay-
toonah University of Jordan (ZUJ), were obtained from the UI GreenMetric website and
Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan presidency office. The main tool for data collection
was a questionnaire survey. Thus, a structured questionnaire was developed and tested
by conducting a pilot study. This survey questionnaire consisted of two sections; the
first section obtained demographic data from experts. This study applied the Relative
Importance Index (RII) method for weighting UI GreenMetric assessment indicators on
the basis of its contributions to achieving UN SDGs; therefore, in the second section of the
questionnaire, experts were asked to evaluate each assessment indicator of UI GreenMetric
according to their contributions to achieve UN SDGs on the basis of a 5-point Likert scale
(varying from 1: very low important contribution, to 5: very important contributions).
On the other hand, in the second part of the questionnaire, experts were asked to answer
general questions about the contributions of each indicator of 39 UI GreenMetric indicators
to the general achievement of each SDG (targets of SDG).
Structured questionnaire surveys were distributed to 65 Jordanian experts (academics,
consultants, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and government officials), and 35
participants (55 percent) completed the survey. On the basis of the central limit theo-
rem, with a sample size above 30, a statistical analysis can be conducted; therefore, 35
respondents/participants were adequate.
In this research, 46% of the respondents were from universities, 23% were from
consultant companies, 17% were from government authorities, and 14% were from non-
governmental organizations (NGOs). The respondents had different designations, such
as the assistant professor, associate professor, senior engineer, project manager, technical
advisor, head of a department, and manager or director. Notably, 83% of respondents had
more than five years of experience, and 57% had a Ph.D. or master’s degree.
3.2. Data Analysis
Prior to analysis, data were categorized and tabulated. The RII method was used to
assess the GreenMetric indicators according to their contributions to the SDGs. For this
purpose, a Likert scale (5-point) ranging from 1 to 5 was used to assess the significance of
implementing GreenMetric indicators to the achievement of SDGs.
We concluded an important association between the UI GreenMetric indicators and the
SDGs if the mean of responses was more than 3 (small p-value < 0.05). RII was considered
only when a significant relationship existed between the UI GreenMetric indicators and UN
SDGs. RII was calculated using the following equation for each UI GreenMetric assessment
indicator. For all the RII values of each evaluation indicator, the geometric mean was
determined. A higher RII value suggests a substantial contribution to SDGs.
RII =∑N
i=1Wi
(A∗N)(1)
where W= weight of UI GreenMetric indicator contribution for each SDG, A= the maxi-
mum weight (5) in this study, and N= total number of participants.
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 7 of 16
3.3. Developing Sustainable Campus Index
The composite index is a mathematical tool that combines indicators; an index is
widely recognized in policy analysis and public communications as a viable method of
measuring performance [
37
]. The creation of indices in this study uses data gathered
from the survey about Jordanian experts’ opinion on the contributions to the achievement
of the SDGs by implementing UI GreenMetric assessment indicators. As stated in the
previous section, if the average response value was above 3 (small p-value < 0.05), it was
hypothesized that a meaningful relationship existed between UI GreenMetric indicators
and SDGs, and consequently, the RII for UI GreenMetric indicators was computed.
GMICIUG MIi=%o f Acheivement ∗Geometric mean RIIUG MIi&SDGj∗(NSDGs/17)∗100 % (2)
This research proposes the following indices:
The UI GreenMetric Indicator Contributions Index (GMICI) is a metric that sums up
the percentage contribution to each UI GreenMetric Indicator (UGMIi = SI.1, SI.2, SI.3, SI.4,
SI.5, SI.6, EC.1, EC.2, EC.3, EC.4, EC.5, EC.6, EC.7, EC.8, WS.1, WS.2, WS.3, WS.4, WS.5,
WS.6, WR.1, WR.2, WR.3, WR.4, TR.1, TR.2, TR.3, TR.4, TR.5, TR.6, TR.7, TR.8, ED.1, ED.2,
ED.3, ED.4, ED.5, ED.6, ED.7) to the achievement of SDGs (SDGj:SDG1–17). For each UI
GreenMetric indicator, the geometric mean of all RII values is multiplied by NSDGs (no.
of SDGs that the UI GreenMetric indicator significantly contributes to achieving divided
by 17). Tables 1and 2show the UI GreenMetric indicators and the UN SDGs.
GMICI UGMIi: GreenMetric Indicator Contributions Index.
UGMIi: UI GreenMetric indicator.
NSDGs: No. of SDGs that the UI GreenMetric indicator significantly contributes to
achieving.
RII: Relative Importance Index for each UI GreenMetric indicator.
The UI GreenMetric Sustainable Campus Index (GMSCI) is a measure that represents
the total contribution of all UI GreenMetric indicators to achieve the UN SDGs. The
summation of all GMICI values for each UI GreenMetric indicators is used to calculate the
GMSCI.
GMSCI =ΣGMICIUG MIi(3)
3.4. Application of Sustainable Campus Contribution Index
Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan’ campus was chosen as a case study to examine
the usefulness of the proposed GMSCI for evaluating the contributions of UI GreenMetric-
certified campuses to achieving UN SDGs. Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan is a private
higher education institution located in the capital city of Amman. Al-Zaytoonah University
of Jordan (ZUJ) offers courses and programs leading to formally approved degrees, such as
bachelor’s degrees, in a number of fields of study. Additionally, ZUJ provides students with
a range of academic and non-academic opportunities and activities, including a library,
sports facilities, and administrative services.
Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan was selected as a case study to test the usability of
the proposed index because its campus has been a UI GreenMetric-certified sustainable
campus since 2018. Additionally, its vision “Towards a competitive university in the labor
market, research and sustainable environment” was an influential factor, and the first part
of Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan’s mission is “An active contribution in the sustainable
development of the society
. . .
”. Moreover, one of its critical strategic objectives is the
raising of its rank in the UI GreenMetric rankings.
4. Results
4.1. Relationship between UI GreenMetric and UN SDGs
On the basis of the expert rating of the contributions of UI GreenMetric indicators to
achieving UN SDGs, we determined the weight values of each UI GreenMetric indicator
according to its contributions to achieving UN SDGs by RII values, which were calculated
only if the mean of responses was substantially more significant than 3 and the p-value was
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 8 of 16
less than 0.05. Table 3shows the contributions of each UI GreenMetric indicator according
to the RII values. Relevant proof of the relationships between UI GreenMetric indicators
and SDG3–4, SDG6–9, SDG11–13, and SDG15 is shown by the RII values in Table 3. These
results reinforce previous statements in the literature that there is a relationship between
GreenMetric indicators and many of the UN SDGs [33–37].
Table 3. Relative Importance Index of UI GreenMetric assessment indicators.
Contributions of Sustainable Campus (UI GreenMetric-Certified Campus) to Achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals
Category Indicator
Relative Importance Index
SDG3 SDG4 SDG6 SDG7 SDG8 SDG9 SDG11 SDG12 SDG13 SDG15
Setting and infrastructure (SI)
SI.1 0.87
SI.2 0.83
SI.3 0.87
SI.4 0.85
SI.5 0.88
SI.6 0.91
Energy and climate change (EC)
EC.1 0.91 0.71 0.89 0.86
EC.2 0.93 0.72 0.83 0.84
EC.3 0.96 0.75 0.92 0.89
EC.4 0.94 0.74 0.90 0.85
EC.5 0.97 0.77 0.95 0.91
EC.6 0.94 0.78 0.86 0.87
EC.7 0.91
EC.8 0.90
Waste (WS)
WS.1 0.90
WS.2 0.88
WS.3 0.77
WS.4 0.79
WS.5 0.91
WS.6 0.93
Water (WR)
WR.1 0.97
WR.2 0.93
WR.3 0.93
WR.4 0.85
Transportation (TR)
TR.1 0.85
TR.2 0.91
TR.3 0.94
TR.4 0.93
TR.5 0.67 0.67
TR.6 0.79 0.77
TR.7 0.90 0.73
TR.8 0.70
Education (ED)
ED.1 0.83
ED.2 0.94
ED.3 0.91
ED.4 0.91
ED.5 0.90
ED.6 0.89
ED.7 0.85
Table 3shows that assessment indicators related to the setting and infrastructure (SI)
category contribute significantly to achieving SDG9 and SDG11; the assessment indicators
related to the energy and climate change (EC) category contribute significantly to achieving
SDG7–8 and SDG12–13; the assessment indicators related to the waste (WS) category con-
tribute significantly to achieving SDG3, SDG12, and SD13; the assessment indicators related
to the water (WR) category contribute significantly to achieving SDG6; the assessment
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 9 of 16
indicators related to the transportation (TR) category contribute significantly to achieving
SDG13 and SDG15; and the assessment indicators related to the education (ED) category
contribute significantly to achieving SDG4.
4.2. Sustainable Campus Index
The UI GreenMetric Indicator Contributions Index (GMICI) of each indicator and the
UI GreenMetric Sustainable Campus Index (GMSCI), which represents the total contribu-
tion of all UI GreenMetric Indicators to achieving the UN SDGs, were calculated on the
basis of the equations suggested in Section 3.3.
Table 4shows the UI GreenMetric Indicator Contributions Index (GMICI) of each
indicator. On the basis of the GMICI suggested in Section 3.3, we ranked UI GreenMetric
indicators as follows:
Table 4.
Sustainable Campus Index for assessing and managing the contributions of sustainable UI GreenMetric-certified
campus to achieve UN SDGs.
Contributions of Sustainable UI GreenMetric-Certified Campus to Achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals
Category Indicator Achieved
(%)
Relative Importance Index
GMICI GMSCI
SDG3 SDG4 SDG6 SDG7 SDG8 SDG9 SDG11 SDG12 SDG13 SDG15 All
SDG
Setting
and infrastructure (SI)
SI.1 100 0.87 0.87 5.14
303.41
SI.2 100 0.83 0.83 4.87
SI.3 100 0.87 0.87 5.11
SI.4 100 0.85 0.85 4.97
SI.5 100 0.88 0.88 5.18
SI.6 100 0.91 0.91 5.38
Energy and climate
change (EC)
EC.1 100 0.91 0.71 0.89 0.86 0.84 19.78
EC.2 100 0.93 0.72 0.83 0.84 0.83 19.48
EC.3 100 0.96 0.75 0.92 0.89 0.88 20.62
EC.4 100 0.94 0.74 0.90 0.85 0.85 20.05
EC.5 100 0.97 0.77 0.95 0.91 0.90 21.09
EC.6 100 0.94 0.78 0.86 0.87 0.86 20.29
EC.7 100 0.91 0.91 5.38
EC.8 100 0.90 0.90 5.31
Waste (WS)
WS.1 100 0.90 0.90 5.31
WS.2 100 0.88 0.88 5.18
WS.3 100 0.77 0.77 4.50
WS.4 100 0.79 0.79 4.64
WS.5 100 0.91 0.91 5.34
WS.6 100 0.93 0.93 5.48
Water (WR)
WR.1 100 0.97 0.97 5.68
WR.2 100 0.93 0.93 5.48
WR.3 100 0.93 0.93 5.45
WR.4 100 0.85 0.85 5.01
Transportation (TR)
TR.1 100 0.85 0.85 4.97
TR.2 100 0.91 0.91 5.38
TR.3 100 0.94 0.94 5.55
TR.4 100 0.93 0.93 5.45
TR.5 100 0.67 0.67 0.67 7.87
TR.6 100 0.79 0.77 0.78 9.14
TR.7 100 0.90 0.73 0.81 9.56
TR.8 100 0.70 0.70 4.10
Education (ED)
ED.1 100 0.83 0.83 4.91
ED.2 100 0.94 0.94 5.51
ED.3 100 0.91 0.91 5.38
ED.4 100 0.91 0.91 5.34
ED.5 100 0.90 0.90 5.31
ED.6 100 0.89 0.89 5.24
ED1 100 0.85 0.85 4.91
EC 5 (21.09), EC 3 (20.62), EC 6 (20.29%), EC 4 (20.05%), EC 1 (19.78%), EC 2 (19.48%),
TR 7 (9.56%), TR 6 (9.14%), TR 5 (7.78%), WR 1 (5.68%), TR 3 (5.55%), ED 2 (5.51%), WS 6
(5.48%), WR 2 (5.48%), WR 3 (5.45%), TR 4 (5.45%), SI 6 (5.38%), EC 7 (5.38%), TR 2 (5.38%),
ED 3 (5.38%), WS 5 (5.34%), ED 4 (5.34%), EC 8 (5.31%), WS 1 (5.31%), ED 5 (5.31%), ED 6
(5.24%), SI 5 (5.18%), WS 2 (5.18%), SI 1 (5.14%), SI 3 (5.11%), WR 4 (5.01%), SI 4 (4.97%),
TR 1 (4.97%), ED 7 (4.97%), ED 1 (4.91%), SI 2 (4.87%), WS 4 (4.64%), WS 3 (4.50%), TR 8
(4.10%).
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 10 of 16
Notably, “EC5: the ratio of renewable energy production towards total energy usage
per year” has the greatest contribution indices. The value of the UI GreenMetric Sustainable
Campus Index (GMSCI) was 303.41, as shown in Table 4.
4.3. Case Study: Contribution of Sustainable UI GreenMetric-Certified Campus to Achieve SDGs
The contribution of the actual UI GreenMetric-certified sustainable campus to achiev-
ing the UN SDGs was assessed using the proposed the UI GreenMetric Indicator Con-
tributions Index (GMICI) of each indicator and the UI GreenMetric Sustainable Campus
Index (GMSCI), which represents the total contribution of all UI GreenMetric indicators
to achieve the UN SDGs. Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan (ZUJ) was chosen as a case
study to assess the usefulness of the Sustainable Campus Index (GMSCI). The efforts of
ZUJ to achieve UN SDGs were evaluated on the basis of its achievement of UI GreenMetric
indicators.
Table 5shows that the contribution of implementing UI GreenMetric indicators at ZUJ
can be ranked as follows:
Table 5.
Contributions of Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan sustainable campus (UI GreenMetric-certified campus) to
achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Contributions of Sustainable UI GreenMetric-Certified Campus to Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals
Category Indicator Achieved
(%)
Relative Importance Index
GMICI GMSCI
SDG3 SDG4 SDG6 SDG7 SDG8 SDG9 SDG11 SDG12 SDG13 SDG15 All
SDG
Setting
and infrastructure (SI)
SI.1 50 0.87 0.87 2.57
205.91
SI.2 50 0.83 0.83 2.44
SI.3 75 0.87 0.87 3.83
SI.4 100 0.85 0.85 4.97
SI.5 75 0.88 0.88 3.88
SI.6 50 0.91 0.91 2.69
Energy and climate
change (EC)
EC.1 50 0.91 0.71 0.89 0.86 0.84 9.89
EC.2 50 0.93 0.72 0.83 0.84 0.83 9.74
EC.3 75 0.96 0.75 0.92 0.89 0.88 15.47
EC.4 100 0.94 0.74 0.90 0.85 0.85 20.05
EC.5 50 0.97 0.77 0.95 0.91 0.90 10.54
EC.6 100 0.94 0.78 0.86 0.87 0.86 20.29
EC.7 75 0.91 0.91 4.03
EC.8 75 0.90 0.90 3.98
Waste (WS)
WS.1 50 0.90 0.90 2.66
WS.2 75 0.88 0.88 3.88
WS.3 75 0.77 0.77 3.38
WS.4 25 0.79 0.79 1.16
WS.5 75 0.91 0.91 4.01
WS.6 50 0.93 0.93 2.74
Water (WR)
WR.1 50 0.97 0.97 2.84
WR.2 75 0.93 0.93 4.11
WR.3 75 0.93 0.93 4.08
WR.4 100 0.85 0.85 5.01
Transportation (TR)
TR.1 75 0.85 0.85 3.73
TR.2 50 0.91 0.91 2.69
TR.3 50 0.94 0.94 2.77
TR.4 75 0.93 0.93 4.08
TR.5 75 0.67 0.67 0.67 5.90
TR.6 50 0.79 0.77 0.78 4.57
TR.7 100 0.90 0.73 0.81 9.56
TR.8 75 0.70 0.70 3.08
Education (ED)
ED.1 25 0.83 0.83 1.23
ED.2 75 0.94 0.94 4.13
ED.3 75 0.91 0.91 4.03
ED.4 75 0.91 0.91 4.01
ED.5 100 0.90 0.90 5.31
ED.6 25 0.89 0.89 1.31
ED.7 25 0.85 0.85 1.24
ZUJ-EC 6 (20.29%), ZUJ-EC 4 (20.05%), ZUJ-EC 3 (15.47%), ZUJ-EC 5 (10.54%), ZUJ-EC
(9.89%), ZUJ-EC 2 (9.74%), ZUJ-TR 7 (9.56%), ZUJ-TR 5 (5.90%), ZUJ–ED 5 (5.31%), ZUJ-WR
4 (5.01), ZUJ-SI 4 (4.97), ZUJ-TR 6 (4.57), ZUJ-ED 2 (4.13%), ZUJ-WR 2 (4.11%), ZUJ-WR 3
(4.08%), ZUJ-TR 4 (4.08%), ZUJ-EC 7 (4.03%), ZUJ-ED 3 (4.03%), ZUJ-WS 5 (4.01%), ZUJ-ED
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 11 of 16
4 (4.01%), ZUJ-EC 8 (3.98%), ZUJ-SI 5 (3.88%), ZUJ-WS 2 (3.88%), ZUJ-SI 3 (3.83%), ZUJ-TR
1 (3.73%), ZUJ-WS 3 (3.38%), ZUJ-TR 8 (3.08%), ZUJ-WR 1 (2.84%), ZUJ-TR 3 (2.77%),
ZUJ-WS 6 (2.74%), ZUJ-SI 6 (2.69%), ZUJ-TR 2 (2.69%), ZUJ-WS 1 (2.66%), ZUJ-SI 1 (2.57%),
ZUJ-S 2 (2.44%), ZUJ-ED 6 (1.31%), ZUJ-ED 7 (1.24%), ZUJ-ED 1 (1.23%), ZUJ-WS 4 (1.16%).
ZUJ had a GMSCI of 205.91, as shown in Table 5. The UI GreenMetric Indicator
Contributions Index (GMICI) of each indicator impacts the GMSCI value. One of the most
remarkable findings was that by prioritizing the adoption of UI GreenMetric indicators
with high GMICI values, ZUJ’s contributions to achieving the UN SDGs were able to be
increased.
5. Discussion
The results show that the implementation of indicators in UI GreenMetric contributed
significantly to achieving the UN SDGs. Indicators from the setting and infrastructure
category contributed significantly to SDG9 and SDG11. The campus’s setting and infras-
tructure would explain the campus’s proclivity for environmental sustainability. Indicators
in the setting and infrastructure category will ultimately indicate whether or not a decent
university-designated green campus exists. This category encourages participating univer-
sities to have more outdoor open spaces for environmental greening and sustainability.
The collection and disposal of waste is a critical component of achieving a healthy
world. The actions of staff and students on campus will generate a significant amount of
waste; as a result, recycling systems and waste control should be among the university’s
concerns, such as a recycling scheme, hazardous waste collection, organic waste sorting,
inorganic waste storage, sewage disposal, and measures to limit the use of paper and
plastic on campus. The implementation of indicators in the waste category contributes
significantly to SDG9 and SDG11.
The university’s commitment to topics relating to energy usage and climate change is
evident in this being the most weighted metric. Several indicators of energy efficiency, such
as the use of energy-saving tools, smart building adoption, policy relating to sustainable en-
ergy use, overall energy use, energy recycling initiatives, aspects of green building, climate
change adaptation and mitigation, and greenhouse gas and carbon reduction strategies,
contribute substantially to the achievement of SDGs 7–9 and 11–13. By implementing these
indicators, universities are encouraged to maintain their efforts toward building energy
efficiency and to be more mindful about the existence and source of energy.
Another important category in the UI GreenMetric system is water usage on campus.
The goal is to inspire colleges and universities to limit their water use, develop recycling
programs, and conserve wildlife. Amongst these indicators are water-saving initiatives,
water recovery programs, water use reduction programs, and the use of treated sewage.
The implementation of indicators in the water category contributes significantly to SDG6.
Transportation on campus has a significant impact on greenhouse emissions and pol-
lution levels. The implementation of indicators in water category contribute significantly to
SDG13 and SDG15. A more sustainable community would be encouraged by implementing
transportation policies that restrict the number of cars on the road and encourage using
campus buses and bicycles. Students and staff would be encouraged to stroll across campus
instead of using private cars under the Pedestrian Plan. Carbon emissions on campus can
be reduced by using ecologically responsible public transportation.
The implementation of indicators in the category of research and education contributes
significantly to achieving SDG4. The category of research and education plays an integral
part in the achievement of sustainable development. The sustainability curriculum provides
a process of learning in which learners become conscious of sustainability and comprehend
the idea of sustainable development.
The application of the Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) shows that the case study,
Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan (ZUJ), contributes to the achievement of SDGs, as
shown in Figure 1. ZUJ is nearly self-sufficient in terms of electricity and depends mostly
on supplies of green energy to satisfy the need for ZUJ campus electricity. ZUJ con-
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 12 of 16
structed a photovoltaic solar panel system in 2016 at a cost of approximately USD 1,700,000,
with an estimated payback period of approximately 26 months. It primarily generates
solar energy (1754 kWh) and wind power (3 kWh) to sustain its yearly consumption
(2.5 ×105 kWh/year).
Solar panels are installed on the buildings on the ZUJ campus in the
shape of a roof top. Furthermore, in all of its campus facilities, ZUJ uses energy-efficient
heating, air conditioning, and LED lighting. Ultimately, ZUJ is in the phase of retrofitting
its electrical machines and appliances with energy-saving features that will decrease overall
power usage [38].
Figure 1.
Contributions of Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan (UI GreenMetric-certified campus) to achieving the UN
Sustainable Development Goals.
ZUJ obtains about 10% of its electricity using non-renewable sources. This equates
to a net carbon footprint of roughly 150 metric tons per year, calculated at a rate of 0.018
metric tons per human per year [38].
ZUJ’s water supplies come from artesian wells utilized exclusively for drinking water
and treated wastewater for irrigation. Projects for rainwater collection are also underway.
Prior to distribution, the water is checked and handled on a daily basis, and it is committed
to irrigation and drinking water standards. ZUJ utilizes its own wastewater treatment plant
that treats and redirects reclaimed water into ZUJ’s irrigation system. Throughout ZUJ’s
campus, economic water control devices are used, for example using water-conserving
toilets and drip irrigation. Information from ZUJ financial department on the gross annual
spending on water since 1997 was compiled and outlined in. The number of expenditures
on water in 1997 was significant because ZUJ relied on water outsourcing (USD 1.4/m
3
).
ZUJ has begun to rely on water provided by artesian wells at a cost of JOD 0.25/m
3
since 1998. The cost of water from artesian sources rose to JOD 0.5/m
3
after 2014. Plants
requiring less water were cultivated for the landscape area on ZUJ’s campus. In general,
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 13 of 16
there are nearly 1660 trees on the ZUJ campus, as well as a 5200 square meter green area
with a natural grass stadium. Olive trees make up a large portion of the trees on the ZUJ
campus, since they have a limited water consumption rate, and the extraction of olive oil
has a high economic benefit. The amount of recycled water used on ZUJ campus averages
approximately 120 cubic meters per week [38].
Introductory partial waste sorting and recycling projects were initiated by ZUJ for
reclaiming glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastics. ZUJ is also interested in developing
paper and plastic waste diversion systems on campus. Much internal documentation is
completed online via soft record transmission and archiving throughout the campuses of
academic and non-academic organizations. Moreover, organic waste from tree trimmings
is stockpiled for future reuse. For this reason, the university is considering using a wood-
chipper. Inorganic waste, including hazardous medical waste produced by the pharmacy
and nursing schools, is currently treated, and is disposed of off campus by a professional
specialist contractor [38].
ZUJ runs a commuter bus service to the nearby residential suburbs to transport
students to campus. ZUJ’s campus is non-residential; therefore, students take advantage
of the university’s twice-daily bus service. These buses are mostly fueled by diesel and
are maintained properly and inspected for emissions as per the regulations of the local
traffic authority. The number of vehicles accessing ZUJ’s campus per working day varies
from 500 to 600. The ZUJ car ratio is around 0.075 cars per person each day. On campus,
zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) are uncommon, and workers will require an administrative
incentive to expand their usage [38].
ZUJ expends almost 5% of its annual operating budget on financing research projects
in a variety of scientific fields. Sustainability research is covered by the funding provided
by ZUJ. The university devotes approximately 12 percent of its entire research budget
allocation to sustainability research. The courses offered by the various disciplines of
ZUJ cover sustainability very well. Furthermore, numerous articles on sustainability
research themes have been written by faculty members. The university funds student
initiatives aimed at increasing knowledge and education about sustainability. ZUJ is now
in the phase of officially creating an executive body for sustainable growth to manage the
implementation of sustainability targets in the ZUJ’s strategic plan [38].
ZUJ has continued to successfully increase the standard of protection and safety at
its campus over the last few years. It was very effective to add and upgrade surveillance
cameras around campus to know the risks and take effective actions. In addition, to track
and regulate who is accessing and leaving the university, the university applied electronic
gateways. Installed card readers restricted access to approved persons only and offered
valuable identifying information. During the past three years, the cases of ZUJ student
abuse that occurred four years ago have almost vanished on the ZUJ campus [38].
Recently, ZUJ has made important achievements in sustainable development, with the
goal of minimizing its running costs and reducing the detrimental impacts on the environ-
ment and humans by enhancing electricity, water, and wastewater facilities, which form
a large part of the ZUJ operating costs. Therefore, via the construction of solar electricity
panels and the implementation of LED lighting, ZUJ has made important contributions in
the field of sustainable development. ZUJ applies the drip irrigation method and the dis-
posal of wastewater for irrigation purposes, and moreover uses water-efficient appliances
in the field of water and wastewater [38].
In 2020, ZUJ rose in the UI GreenMetric rankings to number 213 according to these
enhancements. The ZUJ’s UI GreenMetric score is being used as an external evaluation
measure to determine the magnitude of the ZUJ’s sustainability achievement [39].
6. Conclusions
Governments worldwide have adopted policies to achieve the UN SDGs, and sustain-
able university campuses can play a critical role in this effort. Currently, there is a dearth
of research on this subject, and no current index explains the relationship between the eval-
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 14 of 16
uation metrics and the UN SDGs in a quantitative manner. Higher education institutions
must gather additional data to decide which aspects can be prioritized to optimize the
contribution of sustainable campuses to achieving the UN SDGs. Thus, this research aims
to develop a novel index to assess and manage the contributions of sustainable campuses
certified by UI GreenMetric to achieving the SDGs.
The findings of this study are expected to help us better understand the role of
sustainable campuses in achieving the UN SDGs. These findings will add contributions to
the body of knowledge and the practice in many ways.
To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, the proposed indices in this study are new;
as the first study of its kind in Jordan, the findings of this study will provide new insight
into existing sustainable practice, which may serve as a guide for future studies. This
study provides data on the current knowledge and literature on sustainable campuses and
their contributions to the achievement of the UN SDGs. This research provides ideas and
guidance that can assist higher education organizations in putting a greater emphasis on
meeting the UN SDGs.
More significantly, the suggested indices for assessing and managing sustainable cam-
puses will guide researchers and policymakers around the globe in creating new sustainable
campus assessment methods or upgrading current sustainable campus assessment systems.
The findings of this study can support the development of sustainable campus assessment
tools and the improvement of the achievement of UN SDGs in countries. Because the
understanding of the contributions of sustainable campuses to achieving UN SDGs is still
limited, this research will raise awareness and knowledge among scholars and practitioners
as to the way in which to improve UN SDG achievement. In summary, by incorporating the
UN SDGs into the assessment and management of sustainable campuses, the contribution
of sustainable campuses to achieving the UN SDGs can be greatly increased. As a result,
policymakers, professionals, higher education institutions, and sustainability managers can
use the proposed indices in different universities to assess and manage the contributions of
UI GreenMetric-certified sustainable campuses to achieve UN SDGs.
This study achieved the objectives mentioned in the introduction. In order to explore
if a relationship exists between the UI GreenMetric assessment indicators and the UN
SDGs and to develop a new index for assessing and managing the contributions of the
UI GreenMetric assessment indicator, we conducted a literature review and developed
a hypothesis, as discussed in Section 3. A questionnaire was developed and distributed
to the targeted audience. Data were gathered through a survey and analyzed according
to frequency and the Relative Importance Index. Contribution indices were constructed
and were used to assess the contributions of the UI GreenMetric assessment indicators to
achieving the UN SDGs. The results confirm that there is a significant relationship between
the UN SDGs and the UI GreenMetric assessment indicators.
This study found that implementing the UI GreenMetric indicators contributes to
achieving the UN SDGs, namely, SD3, SDG4, SD6, SDG7, SDG8, SDG9, SDG11, SDG12,
SDG13, and SD15. The contributions of Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan’s UI GreenMetric-
certified sustainable campus to achieving the SDGs were assessed. The GMSCI value is
215 for Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan. While this research achieved its objectives, it
has limitations. This study only assessed sustainable campuses certified by the UI Green-
Metric. However, the study’s results may be used to create a new index for evaluating and
managing other types of sustainable campus evaluation systems. The lack of a previously
developed index and the shortage of information on the topic represents the second limita-
tion, preventing the comparison of the proposed index in this research to other existing
indexes.
The GMICI and GMSCI assist us in determining the contributions of UI GreenMetric
indicators to the achievement of the UN SDGs. As a result, we conclude that these indices
are useful for evaluating the contributions of UI GreenMetric-certified sustainable campuses
to achieving UN SDGs.
Sustainability 2021,13, 11770 15 of 16
Author Contributions:
Conceptualization, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; methodology, R.A., I.J., H.R.
and H.A.; software, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; validation, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; formal analysis,
R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; investigation, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; resources, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.;
data curation, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; writing—original draft preparation, R.A., I.J., H.R. and
H.A.; writing—review and editing, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; visualization, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.;
supervision, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; project administration, R.A., I.J., H.R. and H.A.; funding
acquisition, R.A., I.J. and H.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the
manuscript.
Funding:
This research was funded by Al Zaytoonah University of Jordan, grant number (13/11/2020-
2021), project titled “Developing a Novel Framework for Assessing and Managing the Contributions
of Sustainable Construction Project to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Jordan”.
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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