Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company and builder of the well-known eco-city development project, has announced a new initiative aimed at integrating sustainability into employees’ private and work lives.
The initiative, called START, raises its employees’ knowledge of environmental issues through efforts such as a recent week-long awareness campaign and a “sustainability pledge” campaign, which was signed by nearly 200 staff members. They received ideas on conserving water and energy, as well as tips on minimizing waste and the environmental impacts of transport.
The information provided goes beyond education by contributing to on-going research: Masdar uses innovative technology to measure and analyse its employees’ consumption and emissions habits.
Smart meters are in place to monitor energy and water use. Waste is tracked, and so are emissions produced due to staff commutes. All this information is published and integrated within the Masdar Sustainable Administration Facilities. This system will gauge behavioural changes and create a benchmark for the project’s sustainability.
START places particular emphasis on the sustainable use of water.
“Fresh water is a precious resource, especially in the Middle East, and we need to make better decisions about how we use it in our daily lives,” said Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany, associate director of sustainability at Masdar. “START teaches valuable lessons about our choices, and also presents real alternatives, such as the waterless carwash, so that we can be better citizens of this planet. Sometimes this is as simple as being aware of the options available and the consequences of our actions.”
The START initiative is part of Masdar’s sustainability strategy, designed to ensure that every aspect of the business, from corporate strategy to daily operations and internal culture, is infused with environmentally-sound principles.
Dr. Al-Hosany said that START would further Masdar’s role as the global leader in renewable energy and clean technology innovation. “We hope START serves as a template for other organisations in Abu Dhabi and beyond to further develop a culture that integrates sustainability as a key corporate value,” he said.
Masdar, owned by the Mubadala Development Company, is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted initiative aimed at advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions.
In addition to developing renewable energy technology, it has been building Masdar City, a smart clean-energy city, since 2006. Development of the showcase city has been plagued with conflicting reports of delays and cut-backs due to the financial crisis. In November, Masdar’s chief executive officer Sultan Al Jaber announced that plans for the project were unchanged and the project was proceeding.
The project, which includes the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) as well as International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), will be powered by solar energy and aims to produce zero-carbon and zero-waste. MIST opened its campus to students studying clean technology in September.
