Earth Day: Sustainability Has Been a Long-Standing Tradition at FIT VUT

April 22nd? Earth Day, of course. The roots of this international initiative, aimed at protecting the environment and raising awareness of humanity’s relationship with nature, date back to 1970. We at the Faculty of Information Technology can proudly say that we work, study, and spend a great deal of time in a place that, thanks to its technical and technological solutions, connects the grounds of a historic monastery with the vision of a modern and environmentally responsible campus. The result is a unique ecosystem in which technology helps conserve resources and increase the faculty’s resilience to climate change.

We asked the most qualified person, Energy and Building Services Manager Lukáš Duránik, for his perspective as a practitioner and coordinator on the “sustainable faculty” project. He certainly has a lot to say on the topic, having been at the faculty since its inception in 2002. “From the perspective of building operations management, it’s not just about ecology, but also about economic sustainability. Reducing energy costs and efficient management are investments that pay off for the faculty in the long term. Our goal is for the Faculty of Information Technology to be not only a leader in IT education but also an inspiration for how a modern institution can care for its surroundings and resources,” he summarizes his view on the principles of sustainable campus management at the outset.

Four Principles of Sustainable Campus Operations

The transformation of the IT faculty into a sustainable reality rests, in the case of FIT, on four pillars. All of them trace their origins back to the first decade of the 21st century, when a major renovation and expansion of the faculty campus took place. The primary and most comprehensive pillar is energy management—from solar energy to the heat generated by server operations. We are talking about an environment where cutting-edge research and powerful computer systems run twenty-four hours a day; efficient energy management is therefore the number one priority. The faculty buildings have been using photovoltaics since 2008. In recent months, a large group of modern photovoltaic panels was installed on the M, N, and O. Lukáš Duránik notes that this was a technical challenge—given the flat roofs of these buildings, which were not designed to support future photovoltaic systems when they were originally built, and given the need to limit the number of mounting anchors in them (and the potential for subsequent leaks). The faculty currently uses a direct consumption mode without battery storage or surplus energy. Part of the campus’s electricity consumption is thus immediately covered by solar energy, thereby reducing both the carbon footprint and dependence on external sources.

Efficient boiler rooms are a given: Modern condensing boilers ensure that even traditional heating operates with maximum efficiency and minimal emissions. This is complemented by a smart heat recovery solution. Waste heat generated by servers and other technologies is not simply “blown” outside; instead, a portion of the residual heat is extracted via a heat recovery unit, which is then used to preheat the incoming outdoor air. “We spent a long time learning how to fine-tune the technology settings based on the nature of operations, the number of students and staff, the event schedule, and also on changing outdoor conditions. Today, this is a matter of course, and we are able to maintain the necessary temperature standard in many rooms,” adds Duránik, noting that, for example, the pre-cooling of lecture halls in the summer using nighttime air is also controlled, eliminating the need for air conditioning.

The second pillar of sustainable operations at the Faculty of Information Technology is water management. Here, every drop literally counts. We use non-potable water on the campus where it would be a waste to use drinking water—typically for irrigating the extensive green spaces on the campus or flushing high-capacity toilets. The total area of the faculty campus is approximately 18,400 m²; green spaces account for just under 6,000 m², not including green spaces on building roofs (see below). We are therefore speaking, without exaggeration, of a “green campus.” “Since we’re connected to the park landscape and transition directly into the park, we have to take intensive care of the green spaces, including maintenance and new plantings. We use reclaimed water for irrigation and are able to keep the green areas green even during the summer,” comments Duránik on the situation. In the middle of the urban development of Brno’s Královo Pole district, there are thus areas serving as a refuge for insects (including, for example, stag beetles) and small fauna. “Water management,” however, also involves many smart details, including the widespread installation of aerators and dual-flush toilets throughout the campus. While these may seem inconspicuous—and in today’s context, often taken for granted—they generate significant savings given the total number of campus users. After all, we have 2,700 students and over 300 academic and other staff members at FIT…

An interesting feature that many visitors to the faculty may not immediately notice, and at the same time the third pillar of FIT’s sustainable operation, are the green roofs on lecture hall complexes E, D, and most recently on part of the roof of building Q. In total, they cover an area of roughly 1,700 m², and the layer of soil on our roofs is typically between 10 and 20 cm thick. The drought-tolerant, extensive vegetation “functions” as living insulation and is also a characteristic feature of modern architecture. The vegetation was selected to withstand harsh weather and climatic conditions, where plants are often exposed to sunlight, wind, rain, frost, and extreme drought. That is why we rely on species that can endure these conditions and are low-maintenance and water-efficient. Specifically, these include rock cress, sedums, and drought-tolerant perennials. The plants act as a natural filter and thermal shield, and they require no significant maintenance or replanting. In summer, they cool the building, thereby reducing air conditioning costs, and in winter, they improve thermal insulation.

We wouldn’t be a university institution dedicated to cutting-edge technologies if we didn’t utilize the concept of a smart campus. This is the figurative fourth and final pillar of the faculty’s sustainability. Even in technical management, we simply cannot deny our “DNA.” A massive measurement and control system for various operational components (based on a Honeywell solution) was installed upon completion of the campus renovation—at the time, it was one of the largest installations of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. “But even today, it’s a relatively complex system. Our faculty was a pioneer within BUT with such a massive system setup. Moreover, we still stand a bit apart; we even have our own BMS server.” The campus management system includes security, access control, and a camera system, as well as the management of all resources, such as HVAC, heating and cooling sources, room temperature control, etc. For example, in the dormitory areas, window vents controlled by air quality sensors (CO2) are installed. As part of this hybrid ventilation system, the building itself recognizes when ventilation is needed and activates the system. Motion sensors are installed in restrooms and hallways, which are now a standard feature to eliminate unnecessary lighting. At the same time, outdoor lighting is controlled by twilight sensors. A given, but one that has also been in place at FIT for quite some time (since 2021), is electric mobility: The faculty has its own electric vehicle, which it uses for operational needs, thereby supporting clean mobility.

A concept ahead of its time

Many of the elements mentioned above now seem standard. However, we must not forget that in many cases, they were installed as long as 20 years ago, during the renovation and expansion of the campus (specifically, this spanned the period from 2001 to 2013; the last new building was Building Q – the Information Technology Research Center). For example, the aforementioned measurement and control system was installed in buildings L, M, N, and O two decades ago and is due for inevitable modernization—but many of the suppliers of the equipment from that time no longer exist. This raises questions for the future regarding the compatibility of new installations with the old ones, their financial costs, or the problem of necessary replacement of distribution systems.

And what other challenges lie ahead in the near future? Lukáš Duránik mentions the planned completion of the southern cloisters. “Everything is currently in the design documentation phase. The plan is to take the technology a step further. We would like to install geothermal wells, heat pumps, and water retention systems on-site. That would be the proverbial cherry on top of the complex’s construction.” The project is intended to be set within the historic buildings of the former monastery and to complement a missing structure from the past—in this location, the cloisters once formed an enclosed courtyard, the layout of which is now marked by a walkway grate.

Finally, the question must be asked about the most favorite spot on the FIT campus: “Probably the courtyard between buildings A and C, in front of which we are standing now. But overall, I’m proud of the campus. When I visited universities in Norway, Austria, or Spain, I repeatedly came away with the feeling that we have nothing to be ashamed of,” concludes Lukáš Duránik. The planet is not an inexhaustible resource, and every person bears a share of responsibility for its protection and for a sustainable way of life. Our conscience is somewhat eased by the fact that we work and study in a place where sustainability is not just a theoretical slogan.