Siemens has announced it has partnered with the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) to help the university reduce expenses and curtail carbon emissions. As part of the collaboration, Siemens will retrofit the air conditioning, ventilation, lighting and hot water systems, as well as install water conservation equipment and advanced energy controls across 19 buildings at the AURAK Campus.
It is estimated that these measures will save the university around $245,000 annually. The measures will also be guaranteed under Siemens’ leading performance assurance program, a statement added.
His Excellency Prof. Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, American University of Ras Al Khaimah President, said: “The launch of this project marks another milestone in AURAK’s plan of environmental sustainability and energy conservation at our campus, and this comes in line with Ras Al Khaimah Energy Efficiency and Renewables Strategy 2040. By using energy and water more wisely on our campus, we will also reduce our carbon footprint.”
Siemens plans to address four levers of AURAK’s decarbonisation roadmap, the statement said. The first is to reduce consumption via the scope of this project. Subsequent phases will include producing energy on site by leveraging renewable technologies, transitioning to electrification, and carbon offsetting.
The Energy Performance Contracting Project aims to be completed before the end of this year. It is expected to reduce AURAK’s electricity consumption by 1.7mn kilowatt-hours, water by 1.8mn imperial gallons and carbon emissions by 700 metric tons, per year. This is the equivalent of growing more than 11,000 trees over 10 years, the statement added.
“Making university campuses smarter and more efficient is a top priority for Siemens globally and in the UAE,” said Franco Atassi, the CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure in the Middle East.
“Our collaboration with AURAK, one of the country’s most prestigious universities, is one example of what Siemens can do to improve the efficiency and environmental sustainability of buildings everywhere, from schools to factories to office buildings to entire cities.”
Ras Al Khaimah Municipality through REEM, its energy efficiency and renewables office, is serving as a technical advisor to AURAK.
In March 2022, Al Hamra showcased a five-year roadmap to boost investment, business, residential and tourism in Ras Al Khaimah, while later in the month, EtihadWE noted that 29 vital infrastructure projects worth $820mn were nearing completion in Northern Emirates including Ras Al Khaimah. The month also saw Al Hamra announce the $272mn Falcon Island residential project.