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KAU is committed to sustainability in all aspects in its strategies. New buildings follow sustainable standards that comply with the university's sustainability objectives.
The General Administration for Studies and Designs
To serve this goal, KAU has created "The General Administration for Studies and Designs" which seeks to be a pilot house in the management of the studies, designs and development of university cities through the application of modern technical standards and specifications to serve the scientific and academic process and the effective application of quality management systems so that quality becomes an integral part of the daily practices and are up to the requirements and expectations of the beneficiaries and support decision-making and contribute to the achievement of the strategic objectives of the administration.
“Towards the creation of a healthy, attractive and sustainable university environment using rational resources”, is the message of the General Administration for Studies and Designs at King Abdulaziz University.
The administration is:
committed to provide an appropriate working environment and activate the principle of participation and effective contribution.
is keen to implement and develop the quality management system according to international standards ISO 9001: 2008, by self-monitoring and administrative follow-up and periodic review of quality objectives.
Its Mission:
The impact of the environment, which is based on shaping the lives of people, goes beyond the material dimension, directly touching the efficiency of performance, leading to the stimulation of creative thinking that contributes to the advancement of nations. From here, its mission is to plan the future of KAU campus and its branches in order to provide an ideal educational, research and practical sustainable environment through future facilities or to rehabilitate and upgrade existing facilities and infrastructure in order to preserve the environment sustainability.
The Ecological Construction Unit
It is not new in the world, but it is, in the Arab world and the Gulf countries, that most cities are now required to obtain prior authorization before constructing any multi-story building, using specifications that affect more than 70 elements and substances like building, part of the waste elimination or reduction systems, the useful life of the building, the quality of the materials, the type of insulating glass & insulating materials, and providing lighting products that do not raise heat such as bulbs, for the sake of obtaining a comfortable indoor environment with the lowest energy costs, saving on electricity consumption.
Relevant Standards for New Buildings
KAU established a construction policy for the renovation of facilities and new buildings. The purpose of the construction policy for the renovation of facilities and new buildings, is the intelligent design of buildings that implement renewable energy, natural ventilation and lighting, and green building elements to increase energy efficiency in the university buildings.
In this sense, KAU has already implemented various international green/energy-efficient-related standards like the below.
Green and Sustainable University
ٍSince 2013, King Abdulaziz University enters the first experiment to transform into a Saudi university applying the concepts of green economy within the framework of the university's strategy to implement the fundamentals and principles of sustainability and transform the university into a green university to be a one of the first universities to apply smart systems and preserve the environment for sustainable development.
In this direction, KAU has been interested in the "LEED Green Building certification" and already started spreading the internal awareness about its importance through conducting a workshop under the title "Introduction to the Application of Leadership Standards in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for the Housing Project for Teachers", which lasted for two days in a series of related workshops and meetings with the application of the principles of sustainable development and environmental issues.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Wahab, General Supervisor of the General Department of Sustainability at the university, confirmed that the workshop on transforming the university into a green university will be prepared and delivered by the global advisor, Engineer Mario Cefratni, fellow of engineers at the American LEED International Organization and advisor to the General Department of Sustainability at the University Vice Presidency for Projects.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel Wahab stressed that transforming the university into a green university will reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in the construction sector in the Kingdom, and the university will become a role model for other universities that are considering building or converting their buildings into green buildings.
He pointed out that the Kingdom has recently been moving towards implementing smart building solutions in the Kingdom, due to its effectiveness in reducing energy consumption, and the increasing need for technology that completes basic functions such as lighting and shading. With energy consumption increasing at an annual rate of 8 percent, there is a need for such technology that will enable the Kingdom to increase its energy efficiency.” The Green University will achieve an abundance in energy consumption of up to 40 percent.
On the other hand, experts and researchers in environmental sciences in the areas of applying green economy concepts in Saudi universities stressed the importance of the Green University project, considering that “sustainability is a long-term goal that includes much more than the sources of material carbon emissions.”
They stressed the importance of striving to change behavior at the university through awareness-raising, training, practical follow-up, and the construction of smart solutions buildings to initiate sustainability operations.
Environmental experts and researchers called for the need for new buildings to be designed on the basis of energy savings, improving their use, reducing waste, and benefiting from rainwater, and that the Green University should include buildings and facilities that meet all international environmental standards, including working fully on renewable energy.
It stresses the goal of achieving a car-free campus, transforming roads and car parks into green spaces, and establishing a car park for students and university employees away from the campus. A transportation system for university students and employees, so that movement inside the campus depends on a train that operates on electrical energy produced in the university and its surroundings from harvesting solar energy and wind energy, and it organizes transportation to and from the university by environmentally friendly buses
They pointed out the importance of planting plants and flowers that do not need a lot of irrigation water. A section of the gardens will be devoted to solar and wind energy harvesting farms, and the production of renewable energy to meet the university's needs.
They said that the Green University project is no longer a dream, because the university believes in its feasibility and believes that its success and that it will achieve a positive path to lay the foundations of a sustainable culture in the Kingdom, spread a practical environmental culture, which increases the university's graduates and future generations, and the guarantor of the preservation of the environment and its resources and the sustainable use of these resources.
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