SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Al Maarefa University’s Commitment to SDG 7: Advancing Affordable and Clean Energy in Saudi Arabia
Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Energy plays a pivotal role in economic growth, environmental sustainability, and improving quality of life. Al Maarefa University, situated in Saudi Arabia, recognizes the significance of clean energy and energy efficiency in achieving this goal. The university is actively engaged in initiatives aimed at promoting clean energy adoption, enhancing energy efficiency, and contributing to a more sustainable energy future.
Promoting Renewable Energy Education:
Al Maarefa University places a strong emphasis on renewable energy education. The university offers programs that cover various aspects of renewable energy, including solar, wind, and other sustainable sources. By educating students about the benefits and potential of clean energy, the university prepares a skilled workforce that can drive the transition to cleaner energy alternatives.
Research and Innovation:
The university engages in research projects focused on clean energy technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainable energy solutions. Al Maarefa University’s research efforts contribute to the development of innovative approaches to harnessing and utilizing clean energy sources. These initiatives not only advance the scientific understanding of clean energy but also provide practical solutions to energy-related challenges.
Energy Efficiency Initiatives:
Al Maarefa University actively promotes energy efficiency within its campus and beyond. The university implements energy-efficient practices in its infrastructure, lighting, and systems to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint. Through awareness campaigns and educational programs, the university encourages the adoption of energy-efficient practices among students and the community.
Partnerships for Clean Energy:
Al Maarefa University collaborates with government entities, industry stakeholders, and research institutions to facilitate the adoption of clean energy technologies. These partnerships promote knowledge exchange, joint research projects, and the development of policies that support the transition to renewable energy sources.
Community Engagement:
The university extends its clean energy initiatives to the community through workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns. By engaging with local residents, Al Maarefa University spreads knowledge about the benefits of clean energy, energy conservation, and ways to reduce reliance on non-renewable resources.
Integration into Curriculum:
Clean energy concepts are integrated into the university’s curriculum across various disciplines. Students from different academic backgrounds gain an understanding of clean energy technologies, energy policy, and sustainability, preparing them to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s clean energy transition in diverse ways.
Leading by Example:
Al Maarefa University serves as a model for clean energy adoption and sustainability in the academic sector. By demonstrating practical applications of clean energy technologies on its campus, the university inspires students, faculty, and the wider community to embrace clean energy solutions in their daily lives.
Al Maarefa University’s commitment to SDG 7 is evident through its comprehensive efforts to promote affordable and clean energy. By focusing on renewable energy education, research, energy efficiency initiatives, community engagement, and partnerships, the university contributes significantly to Saudi Arabia’s transition towards a more sustainable energy future. Through its dedication, Al Maarefa University plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of clean energy adoption and advancing the principles of SDG 7 for the betterment of society and the environment.
AlMaarefa University (UM) is a private establishment of higher education, designed to fulfill a recognized public function, by meeting clearly identified needs in important domains for national development. By adopting an innovative approach to teaching and learning, by making intensive use of cutting-edge educational technologies, UM attracts students from a broadly targeted clientele, namely high school graduates (both male and female) from the Riyadh region, from other regions of Saudi Arabia, and from the GCC states.
This document is a report assessment of the Carbon Footprint. As a leading educational institution in Saudi Arabia, we acknowledge our responsibility to be sustainability leaders and promote environmentally and socially responsible practices within our university community.
Sustainability is a core pillar of our mission and vision, and we are committed to addressing environmental and social challenges through responsible management and concrete actions. This report has been prepared as part of our ongoing efforts to measure and reduce our environmental impact, as well as to enhance our contribution to sustainability at both local and global levels.
Objectives
Assess the Carbon Footprint of AlMaarefa University: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of our greenhouse gas emissions to gain a full understanding of our climate impact.
Identify Areas for Improvement: Identify areas where we can enhance our practices and reduce our carbon footprint, both in our day-to-day operations and academic activities.
Foster Sustainability on Campus: Drive sustainability initiatives and promote responsible practices across all levels of the university, involving students, faculty, non-teaching staff, and administration.
Contribute to Global Goals: Align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and other international commitments related to sustainability.
Methodology
To carry out this Carbon Footprint and sustainability assessment, we have adopted a multidimensional approach that encompasses:
Data Analysis: Collection and analysis of data on energy consumption, transportation, waste, water usage, and other aspects related to our operations.
Life Cycle Assessment: Evaluation of the life cycle of resources and materials used in our academic and administrative activities.
Surveys and Consultations: Surveys and consultations with the university community to gather feedback and insights on our current practices and improvement opportunities.
All data collected and analyzed within this report follow the World Resources Institute GHG Protocol principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency and accuracy.
Scope of the Report
This report covers all faculties, administrative departments, and academic activities of AlMaarefa University. The main campus facilities and operations during the 2022 have been considered, with a particular focus on our greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon Footprint Measurement
The year chosen as the baseline is 2021, the year 2020 was discarded because it was affected by the pandemic (low building occupancy, low operating consumption), which led to a decrease in emissions.
Carbon Footprint Measurement
The year chosen as the baseline is 2021, the year 2020 was discarded because it was affected by the pandemic (low building occupancy, low operating consumption), which led to a decrease in emissions.
Table 1: Mobility emissions
| Distance travelled (km) | Net emissions tCO2 | vs. 2021 |
Mobility | 0.58 | 1965,81 | 8.4% |
Table 2: Electricity emissions
| Consumption MWh | vs. 2021 | Gross emissions tCO2e | vs. 2021 |
Electricity | 8772000 | +1.1% | 8772 | -11.8% |
Table 3: Waste emissions
Waste | |||
Type | Treatment | Volume (tonnes) | tCO2e |
Mixed | Incineration | 179.5 | 3.8 |
Organic | Compost | 136.5 | 1.2 |
Paper | Recycled | 70.6 | 1.4 |
Glass | Recycled | 23.8 | 0.5 |
Plastic | Recycled | 6.2 | 0.1 |
Metal | Recycled | 8 | 0 |
Wood | Recycled | 43.4 | 0.9 |
Total | 467.9 | 8 |
Table 4: Scopes
| Emissions source | 2022 | 2021 | |
Scope 1 | Natural gas | 122,00 |
| |
Company cars | 130,00 | 138 | ||
Scope 2 | Electricity |
8.772,00
| 9.887,10 | |
Cold supply | 1.797,00 |
| ||
Scope 3 | Business travel (flights and rail) | 895,81 | 917 | |
Minibus (including internal mail) | 768,00 | 781 | ||
Rental cars | 172,00 | 179 | ||
Waste | 8,00 | 10 | ||
Totals | Total Scope 1 | 252,00 | 138,00 | |
Total Scope 2 | 10.569,00 | 11.459,10 | ||
Total Scope 3 | 1.843,81 | 1.887,00 | ||
Total gross emissions | 12.664,81 | 13.484,10 | ||
Electricity (green tariff) | -2.549,00 | -2.491 | ||
Total net emissions | 10.115,81 | 10.993,10 | ||
Intensity | Population | 2.028,00 | 1.987,00 | |
| Net emissions per people | 4,99 | 5,53 |
Table 5: 2022 performance summary
| 2021 | 2022 | VS. BASELINE 2021 |
Total net emissions | 10.993 | 10.115 | -7,99 |
Population | 1.987 | 2.028 | 2,06 |
Net emissions per people | 5,53 | 4,99 | -9,85 |
Since the establishment of center, it initiates its activities by developing national program to rationalize and increase the efficiency of energy consumption called “Saudi Energy Efficiency Program”, and required plans, to improve and raise the efficiency of energy consumption in three key sectors, occupying over 90% from the domestic energy consumption which is construction, industry and land transport. This program is considered an integrated work based on unanimity and consensus between relevant stakeholders in general and private sectors as per the mechanism of action based on full cooperation and coordination between these entities. Taking into account and respecting the specificities of each entity, resolving challenges face it to accelerate and develop the implementation of energy efficiency programs by providing the possibilities and raise the efficiency of its performance, as well as benefit from international expertise and experiences in discussing outcomes of global applied energy efficiency programs.
Program’s Initiatives
Over 35 initiatives have been implemented to improve and raise the efficiency of energy consumption in the targeted sectors as follows:
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.
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.
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.
Particular emphasis was placed on developing human resources in the field of energy efficiency through implementation of training programs that give accredited certificates with Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), include curriculums about energy efficiency in the technological colleges and universities, establish Center of Excellence in Energy efficiency at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, as well as spread awareness among groups of society on the importance of rationalization and raise of efficiency of energy consumption by implementing awareness campaigns focused on the ways of rationalization in using appliances and vehicles and better use of it.
The program’s efforts have also contributed to enforcing the use of District Cooling in all new government projects when the set criteria are met.
Establishing The National Energy Services Company (Tarshid) which will work to requalify the government buildings and incentives the private sector on investment in the energy efficiency services sectors.
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.
Program Organizational Structure:
The program includes more than 150 specialists from government agencies and state-owned companies where ten technical and support teams lead daily activities of the program, depending on sectors and possibilities, while the review and coordination team reviews their work and coordinate between the different teams programs to ensure its complementarity before discussing it with the executive committee that is responsible for direct supervision on the program, provide advice and support to technical teams and overcome obstacles faced it and final approval on the teams recommendations
Program System:
Saudi Energy Efficiency Program based on integrated system based on three bases:
- Principles: include program’s management mechanism, methodology of work followed, and how to involve all relevant stakeholders in the development and implementation of activities with the governance of their roles.
- Development and Implementation: includes mechanisms of developing specifications and standards, required possibilities to activate the program’s different activities that will contribute to enhance the energy efficiency market by creating investment opportunities promote competing for quality.
- Human Development: includes awareness activities of various activities of the program in addition to qualifying the human resources to the energy efficiency market.