University policies towards affordable and clean energy

 Energy Conservation Policy

The overall goal of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy is to stimulate energy efficiency programmes to promote sustainable development in the country as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia objective to promote and encourage energy conservation in the country

The main objectives of the Energy Efficiency and Conserbvation Policy are to:

1. Enhance energy security by optimising existing local energy sources
2. Mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change and environmental degradation
3. Provide a framework for the Energy Regulator to encourage sustainable energy supply
4. Provide the guidelines for achieving affordable energy access for all.
5. Reduce rising utility costs on campus
6. Extend the life of expensive equipment and facilities
7. Reduce PSAU’s greenhouse gas contribution
8. Create a  healthier environment for our faculty, staff, students, visitors, and surrounding communities
9. Promote new research and teaching opportunities focused on energy management and sustainability

 The National Energy Policy consists of sub policies for three priority energy efficiency areas which are buildings, lighting and appliances and equipment which are in common across most economic sectors, and sector specific sub-policies for transport and industry. The Energy Sustainability committee at PSAU is encouraging Faculties and employers to use the energy wisely in the campus

Energy conservation (EC).

This is any behavior that results in avoiding the use or using less energy.

Guidelines to use energy efficiently

1. Use LED Lighting
2. Individual Behaviors: Faculty, staff, and students shall be responsible for energy conservation in their own workspace.
3. Turn off or unplug office equipment, laptop computers, monitors and lab equipment, unless in use, especially at night and on weekends.

Energy-efficient renovation and building
Policies for ensuring all renovations or new buildings are following energy efficiency standards

Upgrade buildings to higher energy efficiency
Plans to upgrade existing buildings to higher energy efficiency

Carbon reduction and emission reduction process
Process for carbon management and reducing carbon dioxide emissions

Plan to reduce energy consumption
Policies for energy efficiency plan in place to reduce overall energy consumption

In Saudi Arabia, and according the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program, which developed by Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC), Over 35 initiatives have been implemented to improve and raise the efficiency of energy consumption in the targeted sectors as follows:

1.      Construction Sector: develop and update the specifications and standards of energy efficiency of the air conditioning with small capacity, refrigerators and washing machines, prepare standard for increasing energy efficiency for lighting, electric heaters, dryers, large-capacity air conditioners, electric motors and the development and adoption of regulation of thermal insulation.

2.      Transport Sector: Apply the fuel economy card on light vehicles and adopt fuel economy standard on light vehicles (Saudi CAFÉ), also establish a standard for tire energy efficiency.

3.      Industry Sector: Setting out objectives of energy density levels on the existing iron, cement and petrochemicals factories and helping it to achieve its objectives by 2019. In addition to determine levels of energy efficiency for the first quarter average according to the world design standard as a target for new factories in targeted sectors, as well as establishing a tight mechanism to monitor and follow up the application of specifications and standards on locally manufactured and imported equipment and devices to ensure its conformity with the requirements of energy efficiency.

4.      It is hoped that by 2030, energy efficiency levels in the construction, industry and land transport sectors will increase –God willing - to reduce the consumption of these sectors by 20%, i.e. saving about 1 million barrels of oil per day from the expected consumption of energy in 2030.

The University designed plans to improve energy conservation according to the Saudi Energy Conservation Code Residential SBC 602 (https://www.sbc.gov.sa/resources/PdfPreview/web/viewer.html?avx=P_602A&type=0

Energy wastage identification
Policies to undergo energy reviews to identify areas where energy waste is highest

Divestment policy
Policy on divesting investments from carbon-intensive energy industries notably coal and oil

Policies for energy and the community

Local community outreach for energy efficiency
Programmes for local community to learn about importance of energy efficiency and clean energy

Policies for promoting 100% renewable energy usage

The PSAU has a clear policy to reduce the energy consumption and cost annually. Regular circulars are issued to encourage Faculty members, personnel, students and other staff to optimize the usage of the energy . 

The goals of energy reservation are:

1. Reduce energy consumption for all university sectors
2. Decrease the costs of Energy from the University budget .
3. Implement conservation culture at the university campus
4. Promote scientific research focused on energy management and sustainability

Policies on low-carbon energy use

Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz university is has established policies and guidelines intended for optimizing  consumption of the electricity and  water, recycling and proper use of all consumable to decrease carbon dioxide emissions.

Total energy used

Total energy used from low-carbon sources

Plans to reduce above usage