ever Saudi Green Building Forum 2010 here have called for greater public and private sector partnerships, and legislation, to help save water and energy costs, and protect the environment. Dr. Yousuf Al-Yousuf, Project Director, National Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP), King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, has proposed that the Saudi government implement an energy conservation law by early next year. Al-Yousuf was speaking Sunday, as part of a panel discussion entitled ‘Government policy discussion: an overview of the master plan study for energy conservation in Saudi Arabia'. Dr. Saleh Al-Awaji, Deputy Minister for Electrical Affairs, Ministry of Water and Energy, co-chaired the panel. NEEP was established in 2002 with a mandate to promote energy-efficiency through nationally coordinated programs and policies. NEEP works closely with government ministries and industrial and commercial sectors to help achieve a cleaner environment and a more reliable and affordable energy system in the Kingdom. Al-Yousuf said that in terms of NEEP's master plan, the proposed energy conservation law can be made possible if a central organization is set up with a mandate to implement energy codes in Saudi Arabia. He said NEEP has conducted energy audits for selected buildings and facilities, initiated energy efficiency training and awareness programs, implemented a time of use (TOU) tariff program for selected commercial entities, issued energy efficiency standards for selected household appliances, developed a labeling program for home appliances, and developed energy efficiency codes for new buildings. Al-Yousuf said factories that manufacture energy-efficient products such as air-conditioners need government support because of the advantages of their products to people and the environment. “Consumers are shying away from buying the energy-efficient air-conditioners simply because the products are highly expensive and beyond the reach of the common man,” he said. He said companies which manufacture home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and window air-conditioners should label their products with energy-efficiency labels and standards. Al-Awaji said about 70 percent of the energy consumed in the Kingdom is from the use of air-conditioners. He called on the manufacturing companies to develop energy-efficient products that are affordable to consumers. While underscoring government's energy conservation policies he said rationalization of electricity consumption also includes the use of thermal insulation and environmentally-friendly solar energy. Dr. Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Water and Electricity Affairs, said rationalization of electricity and water consumption can be achieved in two ways. First there is a need to rationalize consumption and secondly [influence the] intellectual and behavioral conduct of society, he said. “We need to organize campaigns on the importance of water and electricity rationalization, including distribution of publications at educational institutions such as schools and colleges. We have two plans: one is being carried out in cooperation with Japan, and the other in coordination with the World Bank,” he said. Dr. Faisal Al-Shareef, board member, Saudi Council of Engineers, while speaking in a panel discussion on the topic, “Examining the latest regulatory codes in Saudi Arabia” presented an analysis of opportunities and challenges facing the green development and building construction industry in Makkah. He underscored the importance of promoting green building principles in the Kingdom's construction sector. Zaki Farsi, a prominent Saudi businessman and owner of an engineering consultancy group, said not more than 45 percent of construction in Saudi Arabia follows the principles of the green buildings concept. However, he said people in Saudi Arabia can adopt the concept without spending more money on construction works.
