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CRITERION VII

INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICES

7.1. ENVIRONMENT CONSCIOUSNESS

St Joseph‘s College, Bangalore, is committed to environmental protection and
promotion of sustainable environmental practices. This process began in 1986 when
the College offered its undergraduate course in Environmental Science in
combination with Botany and Zoology. Today, besides this course, the Department of
Economics offers an optional paper in Environmental Economics. The Departments
of Bio-Technology and Microbiology have units on the subject and a student body
like the WAAC directly promotes activism in generating environmental
consciousness. A choice based course in Environment and Health, and a Foundation
Course in Environmental Science is offered to all students. Thus through academic
courses and activism, all efforts are maintained to raise environmental consciousness
in the campus.

7.1.1. Does the College conduct a Green Audit of its campus?
Yes, the College has been regularly conducting an Internal Green Audit on campus.
The audit is conducted and maintained by the Department of Environmental Science.
Projects under Green Audit conducted by students of the Department of
Environmental Science includes: biodiversity, energy, solid waste and water auditing
of the Institution.

7.1.2. What are the initiatives taken by the College to make the campus eco-
friendly?
∗ Use of renewable energy
College is the first of its kind in South India which uses renewable energy on campus.
The solarisation of the campus was done when College installed a 100 KW rooftop
solar power system covering an area of 11000 sq. ft. in the year 2010. This project
was commissioned under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. All types of
energy load ranging from lights, lab equipment, air conditioners, and lifts to water
pumps are powered by solar energy. On a daily average, 425 KW of power is
generated during peak hours and the College is contributing to fighting global
warming by reducing emission of 7600 kg of CO 2 every month and 91,000 kg every
year. During the project life of 25 years, the College would have contributed to the
global cause by reducing 23,00,000 kg of CO 2.

∗ Water harvesting
College has Rain Water Harvesting and Ground Water Recharging systems installed
in both the UG Blocks and the PG Block. This has helped in the conservation of
water.

∗ Check dam construction
College does not have a check dam.

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