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Purpose

Another campus is Leioa University Campus, in Bilbao. The main university building has been retrofitted, including the surrounding buildings (sports center, etc.), covering an area of 9200 m2 . Built in 1970, its HVAC systems were found to be inadequate for both present technology maintenance, as well as the problem of climate change. Therefore, it was retrofit to improve its ventilation, cooling and heating.[7] The entire envelope has been retrofitted, the previous concrete now integrating vacuum insulated panels, with an external envelope of VIP panels with PVC clips. The internal envelope consists of VIP insulation, mineral wood, aluminum profiles and plasterboard. The lighting system was replaced by smart lighting fixtures, connected to solar collectors on the roof, encouraging minimum power consumption. Regarding fenestration, the regular glass windows have been replaced by high performance windows.

Fig. 1.4 Bilbao building energy savings table. [8]

In both cases, the positive impacts were not just for the future generation, or for the fight against climate change; the impacts were immediate for lowering energy consumption costs, creating healthier livable environments and better/adequate user satisfaction. This is what Alfaisal University (AU) is trying to accomplish with this project – creating a sustainable step towards the right direction, by attempting to undergo interventions to improve sustainability.

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Finally, in Saudi Arabia, implementable energy saving solutions are found at Al Tarsheed Company, which has signed an agreement with the Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University to rehabilitate its main buildings in Riyadh with a total of 255 buildings to be more efficient and better in energy consumption, while aiming at the first stage to reduce by 25% of the energy consumed. According to the agreement concluded, Al Tarsheed aims to raise the energy efficiency of the refrigeration plant feeding the administrative, academic and residential complexes, as well as the supporting buildings of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University. The refrigeration plant consists of 6 refrigeration units, with a total capacity of 30,000 tons, that feed the university complex. In terms of consumption rates and targeted savings, the annual consumption in Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University is about 414 gigawatt hours, and the company aims in the first stage to offer 200 gigawatt hours of it for rehabilitation with the aim of providing at least 50 gigawatt hours or the equivalent of 25% of consumption. This project is an extension of the previous projects of Al Tarshid, which is presented with more than 28 government agencies. The total number of buildings is 255 buildings, while the total consumption was 414 gigawatt hours. The first stage had a total consumption of 200 gigawatt hours, with the expected reduction amounting 50-gigawatt hours. A reduction rate of 25% has already been successfully experienced in early 2019.

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