## 1 Introduction  
### Background and Research Gap  
The global energy landscape has undergone substantial changes in recent years, driven largely by increasing awareness of climate change and a desire for more sustainable practices. The building sector, including university buildings, has been identified as a major consumer of energy, making it a key area for improvements in energy efficiency. Higher education institutions, particularly large-scale universities, typically manage a diverse portfolio of buildings, each with its unique architectural structure, age, and condition. This portfolio often spans a broad historical spectrum; it encompasses venerable structures from centuries past, edifices erected in the post-war era of the previous century with expected lifespans of just a few decades, and modern constructions, which are increasingly designed with cutting-edge, energy-efficient technologies. This heterogeneity presents both challenges and opportunities when considering the transformation towards more efficient energy consumption.  
Predominantly, universities embark on sustainable initiatives to bolster their reputations and satisfy the demands of diverse stakeholder groups. This includes local communities, financial backers, and environmentally conscious youth who are particularly concerned about climate change issues. To address these expectations, universities have established dedicated units tasked with crafting, executing, and conveying Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies [1; 2]. At the operational level, these strategies should prominently manifest in procurement processes, particularly in the acquisition of goods and services related to the maintenance and repair of the university's extensive infrastructure.  
In the existing literature, a considerable amount of research has been devoted to energy efficiency in the context of residential and commercial buildings. However, university buildings present a unique case due to their diverse functions. They encompass aspects of both commercial and residential buildings and include specialized facilities such as laboratories, libraries, and sports centers, each with distinct energy needs and consumption patterns.  
Despite the unique energy profiles of university buildings, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding energy efficiency in this context. Even fewer studies have examined the role of procurement practices in achieving energy efficiency goals for these institutions. Procurement documents offer a wealth of data regarding the design, construction, and maintenance of university buildings, which has remained largely untapped in the existing literature.  
Moreover, given the importance of universities in society, both as major energy consumers and as influential institutions shaping future generations, it is crucial that they lead by example in the transition towards more sustainable practices. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research in this area to guide the transformation of university buildings towards more efficient energy consumption.  
This study aims to fill this research gap by conducting an analysis of public procurement documents that contractors are obliged to publish in the domain of Polish university buildings, with a view to identifying opportunities for improving energy efficiency.