Dr. Ahmed Hachicha
Department of Sustainable & Renewable Energy Engineering, College of Engineering
Leaders of Buildings Operation and Maintenance

Dr. Ahmed Abdeen Saleem
Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering
Co-Leaders of Buildings Operation and Maintenance

Dr. Tareq Salameh
College of Engineering
Co-Leaders of Buildings Operation and Maintenance

Goals

1. The Building Operations and Maintenance Sustainability Circle (BOMSC) aims to provide leadership in sustainable operations and maintenance of University of Sharjah (UoS) campuses, lands, buildings and equipment that will align with the goals of the sustainable strategic initiatives.
2. Develop new and undertake major renovations of occupied facilities that would meet or exceed the Certified Rating of the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System, when feasible.
3. Implement sustainable building principles in all new and existing buildings to achieve measurable life cycle cost savings.
4. Support and promote sustainable building principles and operational initiatives, including energy reduction, water conservation and improved air quality.

KPIs

1. Measuring the progress in the achievable level under the LEED® rating system.
2. Estimating the save in energy, cost, and detrimental environmental flows after various awareness strategies applied to the university stakeholders.
3. Identifying the number of activities performed to raise awareness in sustainable operation and maintenance (such as seminars, talks, workshops, and alike).

Current Projects and Achievements

• Different events and seminars were conducted that are related to sustainable building operations and maintenance and directed to students, staff and faculty members in the university.

New Initiatives

1. Indoor Air Quality

   The members of BOMSC will assure and confirm that work and learn in the buildings of UoS are with a high standard of indoor environmental quality. Cleaning chemicals used on campus comply with the Green Cleaning Standard. Reported air quality issues are investigated thoroughly to determine if air testing is necessary. The continues to incorporate the use of carbon monoxide level monitoring in occupied spaces and monitors for carbon monoxide in all residential living spaces on campus.

2. Reduce Energy

   The members of BOMSC will assure and provide that advice to the University management that the building A/C systems have methods to reduce unnecessary airflow in times of low occupancy by the use of occupancy sensors, CO2 monitoring and scheduling of VAV airflows through the Building Automation systems. They also can shut down systems completely when not necessary. Existing systems are retrofitted under these same guidelines. Lighting systems include the installation of sensors and controls to detect occupancy and reduce output during unoccupied times. The LED lighting is used in all new installations and used to replace all fluorescent lights as they burn out.

3. Cleaner Energy Sources

   BOMSC will assure and provide that advice that the UoS continues to evaluate the use of renewable energy sources on campus.
   Protect the Environment
   BOMSC will check continuously and provide the advice that the campus grounds are maintained by regular maintenance and upkeep of the lawns, gardens, upland areas and green roofing.

   Protect the Environment

   BOMSC will assure and provide the advice that the amount of waste materials is reduced by reusing products that are repurposed. Products that cannot be repurposed are recycled in a manner that is most beneficial and conducive for the environment. The UoS continues to recycle, computers, electronics, batteries, ink cartridges, fluorescent light bulbs, and hazardous materials.

4. Waste Reduction

   • BOMSC will assure and provide the advice that the amount of waste materials is reduced by reusing products that are repurposed.
   • Products that cannot be repurposed are recycled in a manner that is most beneficial and conducive for the environment.
   • The UoS continues to recycle, computers, electronics, batteries, ink cartridges, fluorescent light bulbs, and hazardous materials.

5. Energy Performance

   BOMSC will assure and provide the advice that the building metering is used on electric, improving building efficiencies and system operations by Benchmarking consumption. Energy audits and retro-commissioning are performed to identify energy-related improvements. A comprehensive Equipment Maintenance plan is followed to maintain equipment at peak performance.

6. Water Reduction

   BOMSC will assure and provide the advice that all campus buildings are required to have low flow/water saving fixtures. The University uses native plantings throughout the campus to reduce the need for irrigation.
   Outdoor Air Quality

7. Outdoor Air Quality

   BOMSC will assure and provide the advice that all the outdoor air quality surrounding the campus will continue to be improved by the reduction of harmful emissions by converting campus equipment to cleaner fuel sources and by reducing equipment operating times utilizing schedules, temperature set-backs controls and energy recovery systems. Reduction of emissions from vendor and UoS owned vehicles is accomplished by encouraging and enforcement of clean new vehicle technologies such as electric and hybrid vehicles.