National Day for Energy Saving and Sustainable Lifestyles

On Friday 16 February 2024, Politecnico di Milano celebrates National Day for Energy Saving and Sustainable Lifestyles established by Law No 34 of 27/04/2022 and subsequent amendments (Art. 19-bis).

The significance of this National Day is also attributed to the campaign M'Illumino di Meno — which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year — initiated by Caterpillar, the RAI Radio2 radio programme, launched on 16 February 2005, to coincide with the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol.

To demonstrate their participation in the day, which is also sponsored by the University Network for Sustainable Development, Politecnico will symbolically switch off the lights on the front of their most representative building, the Rector's Office overlooking Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32 in Milan, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.  

For the University, participating in the National Day for Energy Saving and Sustainable Lifestyles is mostly an opportunity to remind its community of its commitment to implementing the energy saving and renewable energy targets set out in the Strategic Sustainability Plan 2023-2025.

In 2023, for example, the efforts to reduce energy consumption was particularly significant and achieved important results, summarised as a reduction in electricity consumption compared to 2022 of more than 8% and a reduction in natural gas consumption compared to the same period of around 15%.

These results were partly attributed to favourable weather conditions in 2023, both in summer and winter, as well as to a series of actions categorised into three main areas.
First of all, the University has long been engaged in a technological renovation of its facilities, from conversion to energy consumption, enabling it to steadily increase the energy efficiency of the activities carried out in its spaces. These activities have recently intensified: for example, the installation of approximately 950 kWp of solar panelts at the Milan campus in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci. In addition, the University implemented specific management solutions aimed at optimising heating and cooling systems and ensuring the proper switching off of lights and systems. Lastly, of great significance was the attention paid by the entire Politecnico community to adopting energy-saving behaviour, particularly in light of the challenging circumstances Europe has experienced and is currently experiencing.

Find out more
Strategic Sustainability Plan 2023-2025 of Politecnico di Milano
servizio-sostenibilita-ambientale@polimi.it