Siemens supports the UAE's American University of Ras Al Khaimah’s energy conservation plan with energy systems retrofit

has partnered with the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) to help the university reduce expenses and curtail carbon emissions as it educates a future generation of leaders.

A part of the collaboration, Siemens will be retrofitting the air conditioning, ventilation, lighting and hot water systems and install water conservation equipment and advanced energy controls across 19 buildings at the AURAK campus. These measures will save the university around AED 900,000 annually which will be guaranteed under Siemens' leading performance assurance program.

Siemens plans to address four levers of AURAK's decarbonization roadmap. 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, to be completed before the end of this year, is expected to reduce AURAK’s electricity consumption by 1.7 million kilowatt-hours, water by 1.8 million imperial gallons and carbon emissions by 700 metric tons, per year, the equivalent of growing more than 11,000 trees over 10 years.

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.

“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. His Excellency Munther Mohammed bin Shekar, Director General of RAK Municipality, said, “Ras Al Khaimah Municipality recognises and congratulates AURAK and Siemens on their collaboration to support the adoption of new technologies and practices that will reduce energy intensity in several AURAK buildings. As part of Ras Al Khaimah Energy Efficiency and Renewables Strategy 2040, we are promoting many more projects of this type with other Ras Al Khaimah entities, and AURAK's example will encourage other energy users to take initiative.”