King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has been awarded the prestigious
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification from
the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The
LEED Platinum certification is the highest of five possible environmental
certification awards given out by the USGBC. This is the first LEED certified project
in Saudi history and is the largest LEED Platinum project in the world.
From inception, the campus was designed to be environmentally
friendly. The University will act as a living laboratory by demonstrating that environmentally
responsible methods of energy use, materials management, and water consumption are
viable in the Middle East and across the globe.
Alternative transportation reduces campus emissions and provides convenient transit
options.
- One hundred shared electric vehicles and charging stations are distributed across
campus, and additional vehicles will be added as the University grows in size.
- Three campus shuttle bus system lines with dedicated stops across campus serve
the entire community.
- A Segway and bicycle sharing system provide additional short-distance travel options
in most months of the year.
Renewable energy helps cool and power the campus.
- Two solar towers use the sun and prevailing winds to create a passive pressure
difference and continuous breeze along the shaded courtyards and allow exterior
courtyard occupants to feel comfortable for more than 75 percent of the year.
- 4,134 square meters of solar thermal panels for hot water production and 16,567
square meters of photovoltaic arrays installed on the monumental roof will produce
4 megawatts of renewable energy, offsetting 5.7 percent of total campus energy demand.
- A proposed 900,000 square meter solar energy will eventually provide 100 percent
of all campus energy needs and make the University carbon neutral.
- The University has contracted to obtain 35 percent of the total campus energy
needs from an outside renewable energy provider.
The natural habitat surrounding KAUST has been preserved and protected.
- A long-term habitat preservation, restoration and protection plan was implemented
during construction and will continue through the University’s existence for the
182,988,000 square feet of coral reef and 21,528,000 square feet of mangrove ecosystems
on campus.
Campus architecture is designed to maximize the area’s unique microclimate and ecosystem.
- The University’s monumental roof connects and shields campus buildings from direct
sun, resulting in a minimum solar reflective index value of 78 for 92.7 percent
of the roof’s surface.
- Atria and courtyards throughout campus buildings infuse natural daylight and ventilation
into 75 percent of interior spaces.
Campus construction and design teams selected building materials that minimized
environmental effects and recycled waste materials.
- 37.8 percent of the total building materials comprise materials and/or products
either harvested or manufactured within 500 miles of the University, such as stone
or concrete.
- 99.7 percent of all wood-based building materials used in construction were harvested
from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
- 20 percent of the total building materials (such as steel, aluminum, and glass)
were manufactured using recycled materials.
- More than 79 percent, or 35,169 tons, of all construction waste generated on site
was recycled and diverted from landfill.
Water and material use has been minimized through innovative design and on-site
treatment plants and recycling programs.
- 100 percent of KAUST’s wastewater is treated by the campus Waste Water Treatment
Plant (WWTP). All treated wastewater is either safely returned to the environment
or used on site. 100 percent of all campus irrigation needs are provided by the
WWTP, and 2.5 million gallons of treated water per day will be available in 2010.
- Installed irrigation systems using recycled water reduce irrigation water consumption
by 53.8 percent of estimated need.
- Waterless urinals, ultra-low flow lavatories, and low-flow public showers reduce
potable water use by 40.9 percent from a calculated baseline design.
- Native and adaptive vegetation were which do not require large amounts of irrigation
were selected for a majority of the plantings on campus.
- A stormwater management plan reduces impervious cover, promotes groundwater infiltration,
and will capture and treat 100 percent of average annual rainfall runoff.
- A campus-wide recycling program will recycle cardboard, paper, plastic, glass
and metal.
Energy efficiency measures reduce total power demand.
- Technology like chilled beams and under-floor air distribution have been incorporated
into designs to achieve energy cost savings of 24.5 percent.
- Highly efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems reduce the overall
energy demand of the campus.
- Non-emergency occupancy sensors automatically turn off lighting systems when a
room is unoccupied and astronomic time-clock systems calculate sunrise/sunset times
each day to automatically dim interior lights.