7.2.5 – Energy wastage identification
The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) regards the measurement, assessment and identification of areas with high energy consumption as an essential basis for improving management efficiency, preventing waste and reducing emissions across university operations. Through its Green Campus Regulations, Living Lab model and research on resource use, UEH has progressively developed mechanisms to collect, monitor and analyse energy data across its campuses. Building on earlier comparative research into electricity consumption at different locations, in 2025 UEH continued to deploy smart energy management systems, real-time consumption monitoring and a Digital Twin pilot at its Vo Thi Sau Campus. These activities strengthened the University’s capacity to identify major energy-consuming areas and support solutions for efficient energy use throughout its facilities.
1. Strategic direction
UEH developed its energy management activities along three strategic directions.
Measuring and monitoring energy consumption across campuses. UEH used electricity consumption and operational data to assess current consumption, track changes over time and help detect signs of abnormal energy use.
Analysing differences among locations and equipment systems. Comparing electricity consumption across buildings, classrooms, offices, lighting systems and air-conditioning systems helped identify locations requiring further review of energy efficiency.
Linking assessment findings to improvement measures. Based on monitoring data, UEH prioritised operational adjustments, equipment improvements, greater automation and the use of energy management technologies to minimise waste.
2. Objectives and target groups
Objectives: UEH’s energy-use assessments aimed to achieve the following specific objectives:
- Monitor and analyse electricity consumption by campus, building and equipment system.
- Identify areas of high consumption, abnormal electricity use or potential energy waste.
- Determine causes associated with equipment, operating hours, air-conditioning, lighting and building-use conditions.
- Develop a database to support the selection of energy-efficiency improvements.
- Strengthen the evaluation of implementation outcomes to continuously improve energy management.
Target groups: Infrastructure management and operations units and the UEH Green Campus Project, in coordination with relevant professional departments and research teams.
3. Internal commitments and supporting policies
UEH issued its Green Campus Regulations under Decision No. 2059/QĐ-ĐHKT-CSVC, establishing principles for resource conservation and the development of a sustainable university environment in Articles 5, 9 and 20.
Article 5: Practising Green Campus Principles at UEH, Clause 11 – Conducting university-wide carbon emission inventories and monitoring. UEH collects and consolidates data on energy, water and fuel consumption, together with emission-generating activities across its campuses, as a basis for developing emission-reduction roadmaps and preparing annual sustainability reports.
Article 5: Practising Green Campus Principles at UEH, Clause 12 – Applying smart energy and emissions management through sensors, software and automated monitoring systems to manage electricity, air-conditioning, lighting and water use, helping identify high-emission areas and propose timely corrective actions.
Article 9: Emission Reduction and Carbon Management, Clause 1 – Carbon emission measurement and monitoring procedures: UEH establishes a process comprising the collection of energy-consumption and operational data; the classification of emissions into three scopes (Scopes 1, 2 and 3); and the calculation of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) using internationally recognised tools or software. The collected data provide a basis for assessment, reporting and the development of annual emission-reduction plans.
Article 20: Infrastructure Upgrade and Renovation Plan to Reduce Energy Consumption, Clause 6 – The Facilities Management Office and infrastructure management units are responsible for coordinating renovation roadmaps, monitoring energy use and proposing energy-efficient building solutions. They periodically consolidate results and report to the UEH Green Campus Coordination Board for inclusion in the annual sustainability report.
These provisions establish a framework for energy management based on data collection, monitoring, analysis and the proposal of improvement measures. They provide an important foundation for assessing and identifying areas at risk of inefficient energy use.
4. Evidence of energy monitoring, analysis and management improvements in 2025
| No. | Programme/Project | Type/Category | Activities and results | Public evidence source |
| 1 | Operation of energy-consumption monitoring systems in UEH smart buildings | Real-time energy monitoring; supervision of electrical systems and equipment | In 2025, the total floor area of UEH buildings meeting smart-building criteria reached 79,665.85 m², accounting for 53.99% of the University’s total floor area. These buildings were equipped with centralised monitoring systems, real-time energy-consumption tracking and automated lighting and air-conditioning controls. Operating these systems enabled UEH to identify unusual patterns of electricity use and pinpoint areas needing further investigation. | UEH Green Campus – New Advances of the UEH Green Campus Project in 2025, published on 4 February 2026. |
| 2 | UEH Green Campus – Digital Twin pilot at the Vo Thi Sau Campus | Digitalisation of building management; visualisation of operational data | In 2025, UEH piloted a Digital Twin at the Vo Thi Sau Campus to provide visual data supporting resource management, operations and energy conservation. The model helped develop analytical capabilities for assessing resource use within buildings. | UEH Green Campus – New Advances of the UEH Green Campus Project in 2025, published on 4 February 2026. |
| 3 | Inventory and management of energy-efficient equipment at UEH | Review of existing equipment; support for energy-efficiency improvements | The 2025 annual review recorded nearly 570 energy-efficient devices, representing 89.87% of all equipment covered by the inventory. These findings documented the availability of high-efficiency equipment. | UEH Portal – From Sustained Efforts to a New Look: UEH Towards a Green and Smart University, published on 14 February 2026. |
| 4 | Carbon footprint assessment and identification of major emission sources at UEH | Inventory and analysis of energy consumption and emissions data | UEH publicly reported estimated emissions of 3,561.96 tonnes of CO₂ over the most recent 12 months, identifying electricity consumption and transport as the main sources. The findings helped identify priority areas for energy management and emission reduction. | UEH Green Campus – New Advances of the UEH Green Campus Project in 2025, published on 4 February 2026. |
5. Conclusion
UEH progressively established and developed mechanisms for energy monitoring and assessment through its Green Campus Regulations, Living Lab model and research on emissions management. Before 2025, the University conducted research analysing electricity consumption by campus, initially identifying locations with high electricity demand and proposing technical measures to improve energy efficiency.
In 2025, UEH further strengthened its monitoring capacity through smart-building systems covering 79,665.85 m², deploying real-time electricity-consumption monitoring and piloting Digital Twin technology at the Vo Thi Sau Campus. These activities provided a technical and data foundation for assessing and identifying areas at risk of energy waste and selecting improvement measures. Combining research, measurement, monitoring and technology strengthened UEH’s energy management capacity and supported SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, particularly indicator 7.2.5 – Energy wastage identification under THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2027.