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A Lesson in Sustainability

At the same time that Petrobras OFERED vacancies for 2,611 professionals, filled through a public contest, and maintains its commitment to invest in its human capital throughout its employees’ entire careers by means of qualifying courses and continuing education, the company provides a lesson in sustainability. It has inaugurated an ecofriendly building in Rio de Janeiro to be the headquarters of Petrobras University.

The Petrobras University building was designed according to Green Building Council standards

Located in the Cidade Nova district, the building has approximately 52,000 m² of constructed area, with nine floors and the capacity to hold 4,000 people. It includes 98 classrooms, nine specialized laboratories (six for exploration and production activities, two for information technology, and a 3D screening room), 25 computer science laboratories, 35 booths for distance education, 27 teaching orientation rooms, a restaurant, a library, and a copying facility. However, what is notable is that the whole project was designed in accordance with the very rigid standards of the US Green Building Council.

“The building conforms to the most modern concepts of sustainability. All the timber used in the construction is certified, and the paints selected contain low emissions of corrosive gases. Recycled materials were also used. The water destined for the irrigation of the gardens and the flushing and cleaning of the toilets comes from the capture of rainwater and the recycling of water from the air conditioning system. This recycling accounts for 40% of the University’s daily requirements. In addition, water consumption is reduced by the use of time-controlled taps throughout the building,” explains Petrobras University’s general manager, Walter Brito.

The saving of energy was also foreseen. “As the air conditioning system consumes 50 to 60% of the building’s total energy consumption, steps were taken to reduce this percentage. Heat-resistant windows and the exterior facades of the building direct the heat upwards. This ensures greater internal thermal comfort and lessens the need for air cooling. Natural light also substitutes artificial lighting to a large extent. Internal and external glass panels and a central atrium covered by a 900-meter skylight makes this possible,” says Brito.

The landscaping of the building, with external green areas proportional to the size of the undertaking and the light colors used on the facades all contribute to a sensation of well-being, which extends to the area around the building.

Occupation of the building was carried out gradually and was concluded in July after the transfer to the new location of the entire university administrative staff, previously housed in the General Horta Barbosa building in the Maracanã district of Rio de Janeiro. Thus, one more step towards sustainability was taken by Petrobras and its corporate university.

“The new ecofriendly campus is a benchmark in the effort to train the company’s personnel. Petrobras University, which for years has maintained a portfolio of educational projects directed towards sustainable development, now possesses facilities that symbolize the Petrobras commitment to consolidate its human resources on increasingly sustainable bases,” declares Brito. In a period when ecological efficiency has become even more necessary than previously, and an ecological awareness should be present in people’s lives to consolidate this mentality, Petrobras demonstrates that it has already learned this lesson.