Welcome to the Sustainability Walk
Discover sustainable measures on the campus of the University of Twente!
At the University of Twente, various initiatives have contributed to our shared goal of having a sustainable campus. All around on campus, you can find special spots and initiatives that contribute to achieving these goals. To highlight some of these initiatives, the SEE-programme created the Sustainability Walk: a walking route on UT's beautiful green campus that lets you explore what we do to become a sustainabile organisation.
Thirteen signs on campus, placed near these initiatives, explain which steps were taken towards a more sustainable campus. Want to know how the Cool Circle, located near the Horst, really works? And what measures have been taken during the renovation of Langezijds? The Sustainability Walk will answer these questions and more.
Come see for yourself and explore the best sustainable solutions UT has to offer while walking around our beautiful campus.
The walking route
You can view the entire route of the Sustainability Walk on your phone in Google Maps or Komoot.
All points of interest
The information boards on campus explain the initiatives in a concise manner. However, there is much more to learn about all initiatives of the Sustainability Walk. Learn extensive information about the initiatives by reading down below.
Landscaping the Roombeek
The Roombeek twists and turns over campus, surrounded by plants that help local insect species thrive.
Smart rainwater buffer
A rain barrel with a capacity of 35,000 liters that serves as a "buffer" for the sewer system in case of heavy rain, and can be used to water surrounding vegetation and sports fields.
Solar collectors
Using solar energy, these devices heat UT's pool water as well as the water for the adjacent showers.
Hogekamp square
This sustainably renovated square is designed to promote biodiversity and houses the transparently designed Waterlab.
AquaBASE
A water buffering and infiltration system under the carpark at the Contact Centre.
Retention pond
A pond that collects overflow water from the Roombeek, and allows the water to slowly infiltrate into the soil to replenish the groundwater table.
Helophyte filter
A filter consisting of plants that purifies wastewater to a quality that is harmless to the environment.
Bee hotel
A bee hotel to boost bee and other insect populations, installed in collaboration with students from the nearby Zone.College.
Pinetum The Horstlanden
A pinetum known for its beautiful and diverse collection of conifers from America, Europe, and Asia.
Cool circle
A 10 meters deep and 35 meters wide large reservoir that stores over 10 million liters of cold water, used to cool UT's buildings.
Technohal
An old building, transformed into a modern TechMed Centre, in which sustainability and circularity are central.
Langezijds
One of the longest buildings in the Netherlands, and one of the most sustainable on campus.
District heating
A heat network that sustainably heats almost all buildings on campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sustainability Walk? At the University of Twente, various initiatives have contributed to our shared goal of having a sustainable campus. All around on campus, you can find special spots and initiatives that contribute to achieving these goals. To highlight some of these initiatives, the SEE-programme created a Sustainability Walk.
Thirteen signs on campus, placed near these initiatives, will explain which steps were taken towards a more sustainable campus. Want to know how the Cool Circle, located near the Horst, really works? And what measures have been taken during the renovation of Langezijds? The Sustainability Walk will answer these questions and more.
Come see for yourself and explore the best sustainable solutions UT has to offer while walking around our beautiful campus: win-win!
Where are the signs located? The Sustainability Walk is designed so that anyone will be able to walk the route on their own. Sometimes, members of the SEE-programme will organise walks in which they join as tour guide. This way, you’ll learn even more about various other points which are not included as signs at this time.
If you want to request a tour guide, we kindly request you to email sustainability@utwente.nl
We will look at the possibilities together!
The University of Twente will keep working hard to contribute to our shared goal of having a sustainable campus even further. This means that new initiatives are being developed as we speak, and more signs may be added in the future. The Sustainability Walk does not have a fixed route: instead, you can start at any of the thirteen signs and simply scan the QR-code to learn more about the initiative and get directions to the next sign. Happy walking!
The Sustainability Walk is one of many initiatives created by the University of Twente that is helping us become a more sustainable organization. Sustainability is an important priority area of Shaping2030, the University of Twente’s strategic plan. In addition to finding sustainable solutions for societal issues, the UT wants to set a good example of what it means to be a sustainable organisation. To reach this goal, the ambitions of Shaping2030 need to be put into practice.
Want to find out more about sustainability at UT? Please go to utwente.nl/sustainability.
