Sustainable practices

LHU's commitment to sustainable commuting and providing affordable housing for our community

* Sustainable commuting:  (walking, cycling, carpools, employee shuttle bus, public transportation, motorcycle, scooter, or electric vehicles)

I. Sustainable commuting 

1. Targets

LHU is committed to reducing the volume of single-occupancy vehicles. Our specific targets include:

Vehicle Reduction Goal: A commitment to reducing the number of individual vehicle by 10% by the year 2028, benchmarked against the 2024 baseline.

Progress Update (2025 Survey): Preliminary survey results from 2025 show that the combined usage rate of sustainable commuting methods (walking, cycling, public transportation, and internal employee shuttle bus) has increased by 2.7%.

2. Action plans

LHU employs a mix of current and planned initiatives to actively promote sustainable transportation:

Current Actions:

• Annual LHU Run Challenge: Organising the annual 'LHU Run Challenge' to encourage walking and physical activity among the community.

• Employee Shuttle Bus Service: Operating an internal employee shuttle bus service daily to reduce the need for staff to use personal vehicles for commuting.

Future Plans:

• Bicycle Repair Stations: Establishing self-service bike repair stations equipped with air pumps and basic tools, offered free of charge, to encourage cycling among students and staff.

• EV Charging Stations: Collaborating with external organizations to become a designated electric vehicle (EV) charging hub on campus.

• Walkway Improvement: Renovating pathways to ensure walkways within the campus are spacious, shaded, well-lit, and clear of obstacles, prioritizing permeable materials for environmental friendliness.

• Public Transit Subsidies: Providing subsidies or discounted passes for students and staff using local public transportation services.

• Carpooling Platform: Creating a dedicated internal application or group (e.g., via email/intranet) to connect staff and students who share similar routes, facilitating carpooling.

• "Car-Free Day" Initiatives: Organizing regular "Car-Free Days" (monthly or quarterly) where personal motor vehicles are restricted from certain or entire parts of the campus, accompanied by recreational and sporting activities.

• "Sustainable Commuting Challenge": Hosting weekly/monthly competitions among faculties/departments to recognize and reward the unit with the highest rate of sustainable travel, with awards for recognition.

• Green Transit Maps: Publishing detailed Green Transit Maps highlighting safe cycling routes, scenic walking paths, and public transportation stops surrounding the campus.

3. Remote working

LHU facilitates remote working for employees to reduce commuting, applicable when staff need to handle personal matters or travel for business purposes.

4. Hybrid working

LHU promotes digital education through a hybrid teaching and learning system. This model enhances flexibility, saves time and travel costs, and contributes to reducing the institution’s overall carbon footprint.

5. Pedestrian Priority on Campus

The University provides quiet, pedestrian-friendly outdoor areas within the university campus, showcasing a commitment to safe and accessible green spaces.

II. Affordable Housing for Employees and Students

1. Evaluating Affordability

LHU commits to evaluating housing affordability for all members of the community, benchmarked against local market conditions and median household income.

• For Students: The affordability of on-campus housing (dormitories) is directly evaluated against local market rates to ensure competitiveness. For off-campus students, affordability is assessed by considering local market rates relative to individual family circumstances.

• For Staff: LHU focuses on providing guidance and benchmarking. Staff are advised to target housing where the cost, tied to family circumstances, is no more than 30% of their average income. This process supports staff in making informed decisions regarding suitable rental or purchase options.

2. Providing Housing

• For Students (Student Dormitories): LHU's owned and operated dormitories are guaranteed to offer rental prices that are 4% lower than the local market average.

• For Staff (Referral/Guidance): As LHU does not provide direct staff housing, the University plans to partner with third parties (rental agencies, developers) to negotiate and introduce preferential rental rates for staff who live off-campus. This commitment aims to ensure long-term price stability and prevent sudden price increases.

• 3. Providing Financial Aid

• For Students:

  • Dormitory rental prices are guaranteed to be lower than the local market average.

  • Dormitory rental costs are waived completely during times of disaster or pandemic.

• For Staff:

  • Staff receive a monthly cost-of-living allowance which is integrated into their fixed monthly salary.