Title: Universities as agents of a more sustainable thinking and acting

Biography:

Jandira Menezes is PhD student in the Pos-graduate Program in Built Environment and Sustainable Heritage at UFMG. Researcher and Student in Visual Arts at the Free School of Arts of Belo Horizonte. Master of Science and Bachelor of Architecture and Urbanism, both from UFSJ. Experience in transdisciplinary research in the following areas: Sustainability of the built environment; Planning and urban evolution, relationship between city and industry; and Art in education, representation and communication. Teaching experience: writing and scientific research methodologies, lighting technology, architecture and sustainability, representation and design. Experience in architectural, landscape and interior projects. I currently work as an educator, artist-researcher and consultant in the areas of architecture and urbanism, city history, art and education and sustainability.

Abstract

This proposal is an effort to reflect on conceptual issues about sustainability nowadays, studying in particular how universities can act in the sphere of consciousness or practice, considering the potential of these institutions as replicators of new ways of thinking and acting. For this, an interdisciplinary discussion about the concept of sustainability is raised, problematizing the fact that even though in the last 50 years the discussions on this subject have increased considerably, in the same proportion, data demonstrate the destruction and environmental impacts that have been occurring, as a result of the modern way of life, characterized by consumerism and a utilitarian view of natural goods. In this sense, it is possible to point out the universities as promoters and diffusers of these reflections, acting through the educational sphere, and as a model of self-sustainable practices where, through the managerial sphere, can improve their own infrastructure. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, two case studies were carried out by the Sete Lagoas Campus of UFSJ in Brazil, evaluating the economic feasibility of implementing a rainwater harvesting system and a photovoltaic system. The proposal is mainly due to a demand from the campus in relation to the precarious supply of water and energy, considering that both are fundamental for the maintenance of teaching and research activities. For this, it carried out an economic viability analysis through characterization of the study area, sizing of storage reservoirs, dimensioning of photovoltaic systems, budgets, cost analysis and payback calculation. The research demonstrates the feasible of the systems for both cases analysed, which demonstrated a payback investment of less than 5 years for all cases. It is also noteworthy that the implementation of alternatives such as those can contribute to broaden the understanding on sustainability, in addition to promoting self-sustainability on university campus.