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Making Mosques Greener
The UAE is characterized by a desert climate with temperatures climbing up to 50 °C and rarely dropping below 30 °C in the summer. This means that cooling accounts for over 70% of energy consumption in the country. To ensure sustainable development while preserving the environment, the UAE government is moving forward with smart city goals. The country’s Energy Strategy 2050 seeks to increase the consumption efficiency of individuals and corporations by 40%.
With over 4,800 mosques in the UAE welcoming tens of thousands of worshipers every day, mosques are a vital part of the culture of the country. Hence, mosques could take a visible lead in the UAE’s sustainability efforts by reducing their carbon footprint in a relatively simple and cost effective way using advanced building technologies.
How Advanced Retrofitting Solutions Are Creating Perfect Places in the UAE
These technologies can help create sustainable and comfortable mosques that are both better for the environment and provide a greater experience for worshipers and visitors. Siemens recently partnered with DEWA’s Etihad ESCO to aid the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) with reducing the energy consumption of 115 mosques. The project guarantees a 20% reduction in annual energy use through heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) as well as water and lighting retrofit solutions and control systems. The decrease in energy consumption will account for AED 3,000,000 in savings yearly.
Siemens has also supplied and installed a building management and control system for Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the UAE and one of the country’s most significant landmarks. In the first half of 2019 alone, almost 4.5 million people visited the mosque. Using the Desigo Insight building management system, the temperature and air quality in the main sanctuary is maintained while considering the needs of the space. The system uses 8,000 data points to regulate room temperature and ventilation, the fire alarm and central battery systems, as well as the generators. The solution increases the building’s performance, reduces cost and provides security and comfort for visitors.
With two decades of experience in building management and digital transformation, Siemens has already optimized over 7,000 buildings and currently services over 30,000 facilities around the world. Every building is different, but with building data analytics that enable continuous optimization and retrofit solutions that create real value to operations, Siemens can assist building owners with creating prefect places.
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