Environmental focus in BI operations
Commitment to UN Climate Goals
In autumn 2021, BI’s Board resolved to pursue the ambition of supporting the UN’s 1.5-degree target by reducing the school’s greenhouse gas emissions. An analysis based on the principles of the Science Based Targets initiative showed that BI must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 compared with 2017 in order to succeed. This will require major changes in activities and habits.
Some of the measures that have been implemented:
- A green menu has been offered since 2021 by the canteen operator, i.e. that red meat is replaced with white meat and that the vegetarian offer is prominent.
- All events at BI must be certified as green conferences. Green menu, waste sorting, no give-aways or use of balloons are requirements.
- BI will reduce the use of plastic and disposable items, i.e. that canteen operator has been obliged to reduce the use of disposable packaging to a minimum.
- Focus on improved sorting of waste through improved information and campaigns.
- BI will increase the lifespan of furniture and inventory, as well as reusing materials wherever possible.
- Employees and students are encouraged to use public transport, bicycles or other climate-neutral means of transport to and from campus.
- BI will increase the share of renewable energy on campuses. The latest measure is the installation of solar panels on the roof of the Oslo campus in 2024 and 2025.
- Since 2017, BI has prepared annual climate accounts for the four campuses to map their own greenhouse gas emissions and measure development. BI uses the GHG protocol, divided into scopes 1, 2 and 3, and the accounts are externally validated by a third party (Cemasys).
- Since 2018 BI has purchased climate-compensating measures, through EU allowances 2018-2021, and then through Gold Standard Credits approved by the UN 2022-2024.
Eco-lighthouse certification (Miljøfyrtårn)
is a national certification equated with ISO 14001 and EMAS. The certification helps private and public companies to be environmentally friendly and profitable at the same. All BI's campuses and operations have been Eco-Lighthouse certified since 2010. This implies working systematically to improve BI's environmental performance in areas like working environment, waste management, energy use, procurement, transport and conferences.
The Eco-Lighthouse certification is Norway's most widely used certificate for businesses that wish to document their environmental efforts and show corporate social responsibility. The certification is approved by the EU and recognized as an official environmental standard in Norway. All students and employees at BI are obliged to follow the procedures that are part of the Eco-Lighthouse, e.g. the waste management plan and travel policy.
BI welcomes input from students, employees, suppliers, the public or other stakeholders on how we can improve our environmental work in operations. If you have any input, we encourage you to contact Eco-Lighthouse Manager Greta Koch, greta.koch@bi.no.
Waste management and reuse
All BI's campuses have a procedure for waste management and reuse, which describes how students and employees can contribute to increased reuse as well as good sorting and management of the waste:
Energy use
BI aims to increase the share of renewable energy on its campuses. This has been achieved by the fact that the two newest campuses, Trondheim (2018) and Stavanger (2019), cover large parts of their energy needs by renewable energy from solar panels and sea pumps. In Bergen, cooling comes from a sea pump, while in Oslo, heating and cooling is based on geothermal energy from Nydalen Energisentral AS. In 2024 and 2025, solar panels were established on the roof of campus Oslo.
Campus Oslo
Since 2006, Campus Oslo has each year introduced a number of energy efficiency measures in the building (LED and motion sensors). As a direct consequence of this, annual electricity consumption has been reduced by almost 3 million kWh from 2006 until today. This also includes the tenant areas in the A- and D blocks. This has resulted in a good environmental profile as well as lower shared costs.
In 2008, an energy monitoring program was adopted to ensure an active energy management system. This ensures a safe and economical operation of energy consumption and contributes to energy-saving solutions. Replacement of technical facilities also contributes significantly to energy efficiency.
In 2022, an AI system was adopted to optimize the consumption of heating and cooling on campus. This has resulted in a significant reduction in the consumption of ventilation in recent years.
The BI building in Nydalen is adapted to energy-friendly heating and cooling through our association with Nydalen Energisentral AS, which is a geothermal energy system that both heats and cools the building.
In 2024 and 2025, solar panels were established on the roof of campus Oslo. 10% of the electricity consumption on campus is now covered by its own renewable production.
Campus Bergen
The building in which campus Bergen is situated was completed in 2011. BI is a tenant in the building. Cooling from a sea pump covers 12% of energy consumption and is 100% renewable, while heat is being supplied by a district heating supplier with a high proportion of renewable energy. CO2 emissions from total energy consumption have been reduced by 61% from 2017 to 2024. Automated measuring systems ensure continuous monitoring and adaptation, and energy efficiency measures are continuously worked on. Campus Bergen is certified as a BREEAM In-use building.
Campus Trondheim
The building in which campus Trondheim is situated was completed in 2018. BI is a tenant in the building. A large part of its energy consumption comes from 100% renewable energy. Solar panels have been installed on the roof and cover 17% of the building's electricity consumption. Heating and cooling come from a sea pump and provide 47% of energy consumption. The sea pump produces seven times more energy than the input factor. CO2 emissions from total energy consumption have been reduced by 67% from 2017 to 2024. The building, ventilation, lighting and lifts are energy efficient, and automated measurement systems ensure continuous monitoring and adaptation. Campus Trondheim is certified as a BREEAM-NOR Excellent building.
Campus Stavanger
The building in which campus Stavanger is situated was completed in 2019. BI is a tenant in the building. A large part of its energy consumption comes from 100% renewable energy. Approx. 500 m2 of solar panels have been built on the roof, and this helps to cover 8% of the building's electricity consumption. Heating and cooling come from a sea pump and provide 34% of total energy consumption. CO2 emissions from total energy consumption have been halved from 2017 to 2024. The building, ventilation, lighting and elevators are energy-efficient, and automated measurement systems ensure continuous monitoring and adaptation. Campus Stavanger is certified as a BREEAM-NOR Excellent building.
Green mobility
Green mobility means prioritizing mobility solutions with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. Students and staff are encouraged to use electric cars and public transport when commuting to and from campus, as well as cycling and walking. All campuses have good access to public transport, bicycle parking and wardrobes. The number of electric car chargers has increased in line with the increase in demand. CO2 emissions related to employees commuting have been reduced by 67% from 2017 to 2024, while students show a 42% reduction over the same period. BI conducts an annual commuting survey of students and employees to monitor transport patterns.
Green procurement
BI is occupied with making conscious choices when purchasing goods and services, including focus on the environment and social conditions. It is important to make sure that BI’s buyers incorporate a circular mindset and attention to conditions in suppliers’ value chain when procuring.
BI's procurement policy specifies that a needs assessment must be carried out before a procurement is initiated, to ensure that a procurement is not carried out unnecessarily. BI has for many years emphasized the environment and environmentally friendly solutions with our suppliers. The result of this is that many suppliers are already environmentally certified or have committed to become so during the agreement period. As a result of this work, the number of our suppliers with environmental certification has increased every year.
Green conferences
All BI's campuses are Eco-Lighthouse certified for green conferences. This means meeting certain requirements such as: serving green menus, facilitating waste sorting in different fractions, no use of balloons or give-aways, as well as informing conference participants about access to public transport. In 2024, 87% of the conferences met the requirements for green conferences. BI also works continuously with the student association to maintain focus on green conferences that take place under their auspices.
Climate and environmental reporting to the Eco-Lighthouse
Climate accounting
BI makes annual climate accounts for the four campuses in order to map greenhouse gas emissions and measure progress. BI uses the GHG protocol, divided into scopes 1, 2 and 3, and the accounts are externally validated by a third party (Cemasys).
BI's four largest sources of emissions are from energy, food and beverages, electronic equipment and business travel (93% in 2024).
Long-term work with environmental measures at BI is yielding results. The decrease in CO2 emissions from 2017 to 2024 is 31%.
Since 2018, BI has purchased climate compensating measures, first through the purchase of EU quotas and since 2022 Gold Standard credits guaranteed by the UN.
Climate audit and report
Beehives
Commuting and business travel
Food
Plastic and disposable packaging
Transport
Green conferences
