Sustainable impact as a mission

Via the Role to Play program, Nova SBE invites civil society organizations to present themselves to the school’s community by advertising voluntary initiatives and opportunities and finding a dedicated community of volunteers.

Nova SBE calls on all civil society organizations to reach out and join our call!

Via the Role to Play program, Nova SBE showcases to the student community voluntary initiatives and opportunities with Civil Society Organizations, both as a means of giving back to society, and by broadening the educational proposition at Nova SBE.

It also supports students and student clubs that want support to promote sustainability on campus – inside and outside the classroom.

Nova SBE has its own in-house renewable energy production through 924 rooftop solar panels, accounting for approximately 10% or out total energy demand. Soon, this capacity will expand to approximately meet 30% of our total needs.

The Carcavelos campus also presents energy saving features, such as the privilege of natural and led lighting, and the presence of motion sensors that automatically turn off light and HVAC equipment after 15 minutes of no movement detected.

Nova SBE works closely with all stakeholders on campus to introduce solutions that reduce single-use waste. In the past, we have piloted an internal RVM system – ahead of the national system predicted to launch in 2026 - and introduced tech solutions for reusable packaging.

All urban waste produced at the Carcavelos campus (organic, recyclable and non-recyclable waste) is then handled by the municipal services, ensuring its adequate processing. Organic waste, for example, is used to produce biogas, electricity and agricultural compost. Special circuits such as electronic material, batteries, drink capsules or textile are likewise collected on campus and handled by appropriate waste management entities

Nova SBE’s is equipped with 30 wheelchair accessible water fountains across campus (23 of which indoor and water-filtering), to ensure that everyone can keep hydrated without the need to single-use bottles. At the same time, bathroom taps run on a timer and toilets are equipped with a dual-flushing system to minimize water spillage.

Likewise, our outdoor green spaces (over 65% of the total area) are exclusively irrigated using borehole water when precipitation is not available.

Our outdoor green areas serve various functions and deliver numerous services. Beyond its ecosystemic services to biodiversity and water retention, our green areas also serve as venues for multiple campus events.

At one edge of the campus is The Navigator Park, a 3,000m2 planted area with over 20 species of climate-resilient trees and bushes who serve as an important shelter for local fauna and flora. At another border, is also a Community Garden in the making: a place to garden, exercise, learn, and most importantly, to connect the community living in and around the campus.

The Carcavelos Campus is located less than 1.5km away from the Carcavelos and Oeiras train stations and is served by two bus stations and bike-sharing options.

The accessibility of Nova SBE is both a crucial aspect for the wellbeing of our community, but also for the environmental impact of our school. As such, improving the commuting experience to our campus is a strategic objective towards which we work with municipal and private partners.