Saving energy and water is part of KAUST Sustainability Goals.
Working with Health, Safety & Environment and KAUST Security, Facilities & Community has begun implementing a series of energy efficiency programs. Ensuring that all international standards are met, Facilities & Community has commenced with the rationing of exterior lighting. For example, in order to have the appropriate lights switched on at the outside sports fields, community members must now book all outside courts and sports fields via the KAUST GetActive website.
We welcome your ideas on energy and water conservation. Stay tuned for more direction on how you can help us with this program.
8 comments
This is a wonderful idea. However, I have noticed that the lights on the route to the King Abdullah Monument are turned off at ~5:45 am when it is still dark and rather scary if you are part way out there. If we want to save electricity then turn the lights off at midnight but please put them back on ~5 am when a number of us are biking this route. Thank you so very much.
I was about to say just the same thing. Please don’t turn the street lights off in the early morning while we are out exercising! Safety first, right?
I completely agree with Annika and David. It feels very dangerous to be out running or biking and have the lights suddenly turned off. This has happened to me several times out at the monument despite the fact that the person turning them off has seen me. It’s really quite frightening to be a few miles from the gardens and have someone intentionally turn off the lights on me.
Also, I think that there should be a bigger push to educate the many many people who are out using the roads at night about this. With the dimmed lights, runners and bikers who used to be somewhat visible are now almost completely camouflaged with the shadows. Wear light colored and/or reflective clothing and wear a light if you’ll be on the road!
This is a good initiative, I have noticed the lights at the side of the roads around KAUST have many not working, is this part of the Efficiency Program?
If so please do not turn off the lights next to cross roads and pedestrian crossing points as this leads to dark spots and the possibility of accidents.
There are many areas around the Gardens like this.
I agree that this is a terrific idea. Although, I’ve noticed recently that some of the lights were turned off where there were stairs that were hard to see. Specifically, the stairs behind the library walking towards Il Vilagio. Also, along the Harbor Walk near the construction, there’s only one step in the path that’s difficult to see if you don’t already know it’s there. Additionally, the pedestrian bridge behind the mosque has a lot of stairs that are hard to see in the dark. If at least one light by these areas could be turned back on, that would be really helpful. Thank you.
A good practice in principal, but I will add my concerns to those already posted and those to come. A bit more planning needs to be done to ensure that the lights switched off (or disconnected) for the energy efficiency drive are not going to cause safety (or security) risks to anyone. In the residential areas could they not disconnect every alternate street light on both sides of the road, rather than just switching off all lights on one side of the street ! and in the 1-B Townhouse courtyards, again could we rather have half of the number of lights disconnected and not all of them. Maybe the office WC lights could be on a motion detector (like those in the Spine) so that when someone enters the lights come on for that short time. Good luck with this program… lets be aware and be proactive, but lets be safe at the same time.
It’s a great initiative in principle, but let’s keep a balance between safety, security and saving energy. I was in the residential harbor area near the marsa restaurant last Thursday and all the lights were switched off at 7 pm, not even a single light on. Me and my son didn’t feel secure not seeing the passengers identity walking next to us and it was extremely hard to park my car in the parking area as I couldn’t see the pavement or the parking lines on the ground. In addition, it was very scary. Let’s be safe and environmental friendly at the same time.
Dear community,
Thank you for your feedback regarding the ongoing energy efficiency program here at KAUST. Your safety is our primary concern and we have taken on-board all of your apprehensions and comments. We continue to review all aspects of this program and with your continued help and support, we can adapt and improve our first class sustainable community.
You will have all read the recent LENS posts regarding the scheduling of the sports pitches through the recreation department. The intent here is not just to save energy but to avoid scheduling conflicts, particularly important as our community grows.
Over the coming months Facilities & Community will be putting together a series of conservation programs for the whole community to enjoy and participate in. Please keep reading the LENS for further updates.
Once again, thank you for your continued support of this very important initiative, and we look forward to receiving your continued and constructive feedback.
Regards
Facilities & Community