Towards Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Academic Institutions: The Case of the University of Swaziland (UNISWA), Mbabane Campus Alfred Francis Murye 1 * and Musa Gcina Sibandze 2 1 Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Swaziland, PO Box 369, Mbabane, H100, Swaziland 2 Environment and Public Health Department, Matsapha Town Council, PO Box 1790, Matsapha, M200, Swaziland *Corresponding author: Alfred Francis Murye, PhD, Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Swaziland, PO Box 369, Mbabane, H100, Swaziland, Tel: +26876049394; E-mail: amurye@gmail.com Received date: Oct 27, 2017; Accepted date: Oct 31, 2017; Published date: Nov 07, 2017 Copyright: © 2017 Murye AF . This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract An exploratory study was carried out at the UNISWA, Mbabane campus to describe the use of energy at the campus. It followed both quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis. The campus frequently experience power cuts and surges which interrupt work and studies. Although there is a standby generator on the campus, the situation remains dire as such generator only supply a few buildings on the campus and sometimes it does not automatically turn on. The study was intended to assist UNISWA in identifying energy efficient appliances and practices in order to cut down its electricity consumption and save money. A purposive convenience stratified random sampling was used to draw a sample of 47 participants to the study from a total population of 600 (academic and non-academic staff, students and grounds men and women). This allowed a 10% margin of error and 85% confidence level and a 40% response distribution. Questionnaires and an observation checklist were used to collect data. A Watt-hour meter was used to measure the ratings of the appliances. The study found that 65% of the energy appliances used are not efficient and only 35% of the appliances are efficient. The campus is not also using energy efficiency practices as some of the respondents left electric appliances such as fans and heaters running when they leave offices (41.7%) and (16.7% respectively. If this continues unabated, the campus will continue spending on wasted energy at a substantial cost of E315 656.37 per annum. In conclusion, the UNISWA Mbabane campus is not using its energy efficiently. The study recommends that UNISWA needs to improve its energy use by reverting to energy efficient appliances and practices in order to reduce cost to the institution. It should also put in place an energy use monitoring system that can quickly identify pit holes in energy use and also conduct a full study on energy efficiency for all its campuses in order to achieve a sustainable energy future for the institution. Keywords: Energy; Sustainability; Efciency; Electricity; Appliances; UNISWA; Mbabane Introduction Energy efciency as an important energy resource management tool Te famous Australian biophysicist Alfred Lotka proposed in the 1920s that the evolution of ecosystems is shaped by how efciently various species of life appropriate the energy in the environment. Energy efciency is the measure of how much useful work is accomplished by a particular input of energy into a system. Te useful work could be the utilization of the amount of energy for heating, cooling equipment and lighting that is required to maintain comfortable conditions in a building [1-5]. Te general increase in the quality of life of individuals has been possible because of substantial increase in the amount of energy they consume. However, the growth in the consumption of energy is always accompanied by a number of environmental challenges such as air pollution, oil spills, resource depletion, acid rain and global warming. In fact, the processes of energy production from-its mining, refning, transportation, consumption and polluting by-products, accounts for much of the human impacts on the environment [1,3]. Terefore, energy efciency ofers a powerful and cost-efective tool for achieving a sustainable energy future for humanity as people are unarguably embedded in a system of energy production and consumption [1,2]. Improvements in energy efciency can reduce the need for investment in energy infrastructure, cut fuel costs, increase competitiveness and improve consumer welfare [5]. At the same time, environmental benefts can be achieved through the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions, land degradation due to mining and waste disposal, water pollution and air pollution. Improved energy efciency can also proft and guarantee an energy secure future for all by decreasing the reliance on imported fossil fuels [6]. Improving energy efciency can make a real diference as it saves money, reduces carbon emissions and decreases a country's dependence on foreign energy supplies [7]. Energy efciency measures such as replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fuorescents and upgrading to high efciency appliances can reduce monthly energy bills up to 30% [8]. Te International Energy Agency is committed to promoting the “Tree E’s” of balanced energy policy making – energy security, economic development and environmental protection and, provides a list of short actions that can be adopted to save energy [6]. Tese are: purchase energy-efcient products and operate them efciently, incorporate more day lighting into homes using energy-efcient windows and skylights, purchase energy-efcient electric systems and operate them efciently, incorporate passive solar design concepts into house designs, which I n n o v a t i v e E ne r g y & R e s e a r c h Innovative Energy and Research Murye and Sibandze, Innov Ener Res 2017, 6:S1 Research Article OMICS International Innov Ener Res, an open access journal Sustainable Energy ISSN: 2576-1463 DOI: 10.4172/2576-1463.S1-003