It is widely recognized that climate change is one of the most pressing environmental challenges and has significant implications for both the natural world and the economy. If left unaddressed, climate change could drive nearly 100 million people into poverty by 2030. In response to this pressing issue, Anbar University's faculty has been actively proposing solutions.
High solutions include the use of exhaust gases from road vehicles for cooling purposes. By reusing these gases, emissions are reduced, thereby conserving energy. In addition, various renewable energy sources have been implemented at the University of Anbar, such as solar and wind power units, to reduce the impact of climate change. The use of renewable energy in lighting and water heating also relieves pressure on the electricity grid, which usually relies on traditional energy sources and contributes to pollution through gas combustion.
There are several initiatives aimed at reducing pollution and combating climate change. One notable project involves replacing old air conditioning units with Eco-friendly alternatives. These endeavors are carried out within the University of Anbar's Energy Research Laboratory, which was established to facilitate research and innovation in the field of renewable energy.
The University of Anbar is also proud of its commitment to reducing emissions and combating global warming. Various measures have been implemented to that end, including the reduction of electricity demand and other sources of CO2 emissions. Excess electrical power from PV models is exported to further reduce emissions per kW/h (kWh), contributing to the University's efforts to combat climate change. Recognizing that street lighting systems are an important source of emissions, the University of Anbar has embarked on a pilot initiative to replace all street and outdoor lighting with a solar-powered 3-in-1 system, effectively eliminating emissions. This shift is expected to be completed by a target date.
Given Iraq's extreme weather conditions, refrigeration and heating are key energy requirements, not only in the country as a whole but also within universities. To address this, the University of Anbar has taken several measures, including the use of high-efficiency refrigeration and heating systems called "inverter systems", which consume less energy while maintaining the same level of efficiency. Moreover, LED lighting is used for indoor lighting systems to reduce power consumption and reduce the need for additional cooling power.
The University of Anbar actively cooperates with national and international organizations to reduce emissions and promote communities' well-being. They support research and innovation in renewable energy and work on projects that benefit from photovoltaic technology, such as water filtration, desalination, solar heating, and cooling systems.
Low Carbon Energy
The solar panel at the University of Anbar generates 46.934 kWh for solar cells panel and 10.019 kWh for biodiesel.
Solar Panels
Amount of produced Energy = 0.1689624 Gigajoule
Biodiesel or Bioethanol
Amount of biodiesel produced = 0.0360684 Gigajoule
Solar Panels at University of Anbar
Solar Panels' Control
Biodiesel
The University of Anbar also undertakes clean energy production projects, such as the utilization of biodiesel and bioethanol as alternative biofuels to petroleum. These initiatives have been spearheaded by the Ecology Department at the College of Science.
Among their endeavors is the development of a steam plant for generating clean electrical energy. The primary components of this steam plant include the boiler, turbine, condenser, and pumps, collectively referred to as the steam pi plant. In addition, the university has established a solar thermal power plant that utilizes the sun's radiation to generate steam, eliminating the need for burning fuels. In the provided image, you can observe rows of concentrated solar collectors, which concentrate the sun's radiation onto the water. This process produces high-temperature and high-pressure water vapor that drives the steam turbine, subsequently powering the generator. The station is equipped with auxiliary devices such as a storage tank to store the concentrated heat, a superheated, and other supporting equipment.
Workshop
The College of Science of the University of Anbar hosted an online workshop entitled "Renewable and sustainable sources of energy". The objective of the workshop was to familiarize participants with renewable energy and its various sources and the rationale for its use. In addition, the workshop aimed to explore strategies to promote energy efficiency at the University of Anbar.
The workshop focused on highlighting key renewable sources of energy, discussing their advantages, and making comparisons with non-renewable energy in terms of its impacts on the environment and human health. The workshop concluded by recommending the adoption of clean sources of biofuels to promote a pollution-free environment.
Collaborations with NGOs
The University of Anbar has partnered with NGOs. The agreement aims to strengthen scientific and technical cooperation, particularly in the areas of water and agriculture, as well as to address the challenges of climate change.
Horticulture Development
The University of Anbar has joined the Iraq Horticulture Development, a four-year initiative aimed at strengthening the horticulture sector's competitiveness and exploring new opportunities in the value chain. By implementing advanced farming practices and technologies, the program seeks to enhance the performance of the vegetable industry. This will involve the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) techniques, the establishment of sheltered greenhouses and productive open-field agriculture, the implementation of efficient irrigation systems, and the improvement of post-harvest processes. The overarching goal of this initiative is to enhance the sector's competitiveness, bolster the resilience of market systems, and promote sustainable agricultural methods among the participating organizations associated with the University of Anbar.
Disaster Early Warning
The College of Science at the University of Anbar operates an air pollution monitoring station, which is considered one of the crucial programs for monitoring the atmosphere in the Anbar Governorate. As Anbar is widely recognized for its significant oil reserves, the predominant source of air pollution arises from the emitted gases generated during the process of oil refining. For instance, this monitoring station plays a vital role in investigating the impact of black carbon emissions on the atmospheric conditions of the city.
Scopes of carbon neutral
Extending the Green Areas of the University
Incubators and greenhouses
The University of Anbar possesses both incubators and greenhouses for cultivating plants that serve various purposes such as providing food for campus residents, serving as decorative elements, and supplying plants for the university's college gardens.
Grafting
The University of Anbar is involved in a project that focuses on grafting trees and employing cultivation methods to create new plant strains or preserve existing species.
Animal husbandry
Additionally, the university is engaged in animal husbandry for both food utilization and laboratory purposes.
Contributions
The University of Anbar has made significant contributions to the study of the aquatic environment, particularly in terms of preserving life in marshes.
Constructing smart buildings and using smart transfer techniques for papers and other stuff instead of using machines
The University of Anbar aspires to become one of the fourth-generation universities. As part of this vision, the university aims to completely transform its buildings into smart management systems. The university is working towards this goal gradually, with various measures already implemented under the guidance and supervision of the university presidency. These efforts signify significant progress toward developing smart buildings at the University of Anbar.
Automation
The University of Anbar considers the development of an internal intranet system as an important step in advancing the process of internal digital transformation toward electronic governance. To facilitate the exchange of official documents among different university departments, the university has successfully installed multiple internal servers. These initiatives are crucial in promoting efficient communication and enhancing overall operational effectiveness within the University of Anbar.
Fire system
The University of Anbar has taken proactive measures to enhance fire safety within its buildings. Many of the university's buildings are equipped with smart fire systems. These systems utilize sensors to detect any fluctuations in temperature. Whenever an abnormal situation is detected, the system promptly sends email notifications and initiates phone calls to notify the responsible authorities. In the event of a fire outbreak, the smart fire system is designed to automatically activate and take appropriate actions to extinguish the fire. This implementation significantly contributes to the overall fire safety measures at the University of Anbar.
Moving Detection Sensor
Specific individuals are granted access to significant locations through the utilization of motion-detection sensors, while the operation of these devices can be managed either remotely or via mobile phones.
Solar panels
The University of Anbar is characterized by the diverse scientific and literary disciplines, including the College of Engineering which has to build an integrated and clean energy system that has been used to supply the college and its laboratories with clean energy.
Biodiesel
The University of Anbar has undertaken clean energy production projects, including the utilization of biodiesel and bioethanol as alternative biofuels to petroleum. These initiatives have enabled the Ecology Department at the College of Science to generate electrical energy through the use of bioethanol, contributing to the university's efforts in sustainable energy production.
Smart Control of Natural resources
The University of Anbar has implemented a strategy to gradually shift towards intelligent management of its natural resources. As part of this initiative, several colleges have embraced the installation of autonomous faucets in order to promote water conservation and minimize physical contact with faucets in laboratories, particularly during the ongoing pandemic.
Air Purity
In order to maintain clean air quality within university buildings, the University of Anbar has implemented the use of devices to preserve air purity. As a part of this effort, air purifiers have been installed in corridors, and the university is actively working towards equipping all buildings with automated air purification systems.
Lighting Sensors
The University of Anbar has implemented a policy to modernize the lighting systems across the campus with smart lighting technology. This initiative aims to optimize electricity consumption by utilizing light and motion sensors to regulate the activation and deactivation of lights. This approach proves highly effective, especially considering that many buildings on the campus feature large windows that provide ample natural daylight during the day, rendering artificial lighting unnecessary. Therefore, the lights are programmed to turn on in the evening when evening study sessions commence. Additionally, in unoccupied rooms, the lights are automatically turned off or activated based on motion detection.
Electricity Consumption
The University of Anbar is implementing a strategy to enhance its lighting systems by adopting smart lighting technology. This approach aims to optimize electricity usage by gradually incorporating sun sensors (lighting sensors) and solar cells. The intention is to utilize these technologies for illuminating streets and corridors on campus during evening hours. This initiative plays a crucial role in the university's efforts to conserve energy and promote efficient electricity consumption.
Recycling the waste at the University of Anbar
The University of Anbar is committed to aligning with the worldwide movement towards promoting sustainable living. As part of this endeavor, the university consistently works on enhancing its projects aimed at sustainable living. A crucial aspect of sustainable living involves effectively managing waste and maximizing its potential through recycling processes. In light of this, the University of Anbar places great significance on the development of programs that facilitate the recycling and utilization of waste generated within the university.
Waste Classification
The classification of university waste stands as the foremost crucial step in the program, as the approach to waste management varies and adapts based on the specific type of waste.
Waste
The most waste types that can be recycled in the university are paper, plastics, metal, Aluminum, glass, organic material,
Non-recyclable waste
The local government in Anbar eliminates the non-recyclable waste from all campus buildings at the University of Anbar.
Wastes Recycling
The University of Anbar is equipped with waste treatment facilities that effectively process and recycle various forms of waste, allowing for their utilization in industries such as paper production and other beneficial applications.
Laboratory of Ecological Treatment
The Environmental Therapeutics Laboratory was established to allow postgraduate and university students to work in the treatment of various organic environmental pollutants and heavy metals. The lab's idea focused on using environmentally friendly methods to eliminate organic pollutants, such as removing crude oil and its derivatives and heavy metals from water and soil using aquatic plant species, as well as terrestrial plants such as barley.
Toxic Waste Treatment.
All laboratories in the University of Anbar are subject to surveillance of the usage of toxic substances, whether it was chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear substances. The university has strict procedures for dealing with toxic waste. As all toxic substances are registered with the Chemical, Bacterial, Radiological, and Nuclear Consequences Management Department (CBRN) in the Civil Defense Directorate, and they are dealt with as follows.
-These materials are stored, according to type, in special rooms and laboratories equipped to deal with such materials.
-Getting rid of these materials with strict approvals, and the CBRN committee in the college is informed about the changes in the quantity of those materials.
-Laboratories that deal with radioactive materials are periodically subjected to strict monitoring of the level of radiation is monitored, and workers in such laboratories are examined.
-The CBRN sub-committee in each college cooperates with the CBRNE department in the Civil Defense Directorate in the governorate to deal with toxic waste.
Wastewater Disposal
The University of Anbar is actively involved in addressing sewage disposal challenges within the Anbar governorate. As part of its commitment to scientific research and sustainable living, the university has prioritized the implementation of a sewage network system. This system ensures the purification of sewage water by removing suspended solids, transforming it into effluent, and subsequently releasing it into the environment outside the governorate. This focus is crucial due to the governorate's specific issues, including high salinity in the Shatt al-Arab and water pollution.
Recycling Water
The university has initiated a project focused on enhancing innovation and creativity by introducing a wastewater recycling system developed and produced internally by its own team.
Non-Recycled Water
Before being discharged into the nearby sewage network, the wastewater generated from laboratories and clinics undergoes treatment to ensure proper purification.
On-campus transportation service
The transportation division at UOA is responsible for managing the movement of students and employees, aiming to minimize reliance on private cars. This includes providing transportation services from designated parking areas to their respective colleges, as well as facilitating transportation for students residing in dormitories to their colleges within the university premises, and vice versa.